Sudan and Somalia hunger crises deepen

What's happened

UN and aid monitors have warned that more than 19.5 million people in Sudan are facing crisis-level food insecurity, with 135,000 in catastrophic conditions, while roughly six million Somalis are experiencing acute hunger and nearly two million children are acutely malnourished. Fighting, expanding drone strikes, failed rains, supply delays and aid cuts are constraining relief efforts (23 May 2026).

What's behind the headline?

What is driving the worsening hunger

• Armed conflict in Sudan is destroying supply routes and health infrastructure. Drone strikes have become the leading cause of civilian deaths and are repeatedly hitting markets, hospitals and fuel stores, which is cutting food, water and medical access. This is increasing the scale and depth of food insecurity.

How regional dynamics amplify the crisis

• Cross-border fighting and accusations between Sudan and Ethiopia are raising the risk of proxy escalation; control of border corridors in Blue Nile and Kordofan is determining where aid can move. That will keep displacement and supply disruption high.

Why aid is failing to reach people

• Funding shortfalls are forcing agencies to ration operations: WFP and partners are reaching well below planned targets. Global shocks — especially longer ship routes caused by the Strait of Hormuz disruption — have doubled transit times for critical therapeutic foods and raised costs, reducing on-the-ground stocks.

Near-term forecast

• Humanitarian access will remain constrained and malnutrition admissions will increase during the June–September lean season. Areas currently classified as 'at risk' will tip into catastrophe if fighting intensifies or rains fail. Donor funding shortfalls will force programme closures and reduce treatment capacity for severe acute malnutrition.

What this means for humanitarian response

• Agencies will have to prioritise emergency stabilisation over preventive nutrition at greater scale, which will increase mortality. Cross-border diplomacy and measures to limit arms/drones transfers will be required to stabilise key supply corridors; without decisive international action funding and access will keep deteriorating.

How we got here

Sudan has been at war since April 2023 between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), displacing millions and collapsing services. Somalia is facing repeated droughts and aid cuts after successive failed rainy seasons; global shipping disruptions and rising fuel and food prices have lengthened delivery times for therapeutic supplies and reduced assistance reach.

Our analysis

- The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has reported that "over 19.5 million people" in Sudan are facing crisis-level food insecurity and that "135,000 people are already living in catastrophic conditions," with 14 areas at risk of famine (All Africa / IPC summary, 18 May; The New Arab, 15–21 May). - WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain is quoted by All Africa saying "Famine continues to threaten the people of Sudan," and the agencies warn that only around 20% of Sudan's 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan had been funded by April (All Africa, 18 May). - The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (Volker Türk) has said "armed drones have now become by far and away the leading cause of civilian deaths," citing at least 880 civilian deaths from drone strikes between January and April and warning strikes are spreading beyond Kordofan and Darfur (All Africa, Reuters, New Arab, 11–12 May). - On shifting frontline dynamics, Al Jazeera reported the Sudanese army has "seized the town of Khor Hassan" and is advancing in Blue Nile, while the RSF and allies have continued operations in Kordofan and near Ethiopian borders (Al Jazeera, 16–10 May). - For Somalia, IPC and FEWS NET assessments are cited by The New Arab and others showing nearly six million people facing acute hunger and that parts of Bay, Bakool and Gedo (including Burhakaba district) are "at risk of Famine" under a worst-case scenario; FEWS NET warned "If the harvest fails, Famine could rapidly emerge" (The New Arab, NY Post, 14–15 May). - WFP officials and NGO reports are describing huge operational pressure: WFP Assistant Executive Director Matthew Hollingworth said the agency is reaching "only one in ten people in need" in Somalia and warned operations could halt without new funding; Action Against Hunger has reported critical shortages of therapeutic milk and RUTF after shipping delays caused by Strait of Hormuz disruptions (All Africa, 10–12 May).

Go deeper

• Which areas in Sudan are most likely to tip into famine this summer?
• How long will current nutrition programmes in Somalia be able to operate at scale?
• What international steps are being proposed to limit drone transfers and reopen supply routes?

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