Sudan, Somalia hunger crises deepen

What's happened

UN agencies and monitors have warned that over 19.5 million people in Sudan are facing crisis-level food insecurity, with 135,000 in catastrophic conditions, while separate UN and WFP assessments have said roughly 6 million Somalis are facing acute hunger and 1.9 million children are acutely malnourished. Fighting, drone strikes, failed rains, supply delays and aid cuts are constraining assistance.

What's behind the headline?

What is happening now

• Sudan has been experiencing deepening food insecurity while drone warfare is increasing civilian deaths and disrupting aid access. UN monitors have found 19.5 million people — about two in five — at crisis levels or worse, with 135,000 in catastrophic conditions and 14 areas at famine risk if fighting intensifies.
• Somalia is facing a severe malnutrition emergency: WFP has said roughly 6 million people are acutely hungry and 1.9 million children are acutely malnourished. Repeated failed rains and rising transport and fuel costs are stretching dwindling aid.

Drivers and mechanics

• Armed conflict in Sudan is destroying infrastructure and forcing humanitarian operations to contract; OHCHR has found drone strikes accounted for the majority of civilian deaths this year and are spreading beyond Kordofan and Darfur. That is reducing safe access for food, health and water delivery.
• In Somalia, three consecutive failed rainy seasons have collapsed crops and livestock while supply chains have been lengthening and costing more after maritime disruptions (Strait of Hormuz). Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food and therapeutic milk shipments have been delayed and are more expensive.

Likely near-term consequences

• Humanitarian access will worsen and food insecurity zones will expand if fighting and drone strikes continue; this will force agencies to prioritise who receives aid and will increase child malnutrition admissions.
• In Somalia, WFP operations will likely be forced to scale back further or halt by July without urgent funding, which will increase the risk that districts slip into famine if rains fail again.

What to watch next

• Funding flows to UN appeals and speed of therapeutic-food shipments.
• Intensity and geographic spread of drone strikes in Sudan and whether safe corridors for aid are being maintained.
• Gu season rainfall in Somalia and short-term humanitarian access to Bay, Bakool and Gedo regions.

Bottom line

Conflict-driven access constraints and global supply-chain and funding shocks are interacting to amplify hunger risks across two separate crises; without rapid funding and secure access, rates of severe acute malnutrition and localized famine risk will increase.

How we got here

Sudan has been in large-scale conflict since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, displacing millions and disrupting services. Somalia has endured multiple failed rainy seasons; global shipping disruptions and steep cuts to foreign aid have reduced supplies and funding for life‑saving nutrition programmes.

Our analysis

The coverage is consistent across UN agencies and reporting but highlights different emphases. All Africa (reporting WFP/FAO/UNICEF and IPC) has said "over 19.5 million people" in Sudan are at crisis levels or worse and quoted WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain saying "Famine continues to threaten the people of Sudan, as hunger and malnutrition are threatening millions of lives right now." That report also cited UNICEF data that "an estimated 825,000 children under five are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2026." UN rights reporting cited by All Africa, Reuters and The New Arab has said armed drones "have now become by far and away the leading cause of civilian deaths," with OHCHR data showing at least 880 civilians were killed by drone strikes between January and April this year. Volker Tfcrk is quoted warning the conflict "is on the cusp of entering yet another new, even deadlier phase." Those pieces make the link between drone use, disrupted services and rising famine risk. On Somalia, WFP statements reported by Reuters, All Africa and The New Arab have said "some 6 million people" face acute hunger and 1.9 million children are acutely malnourished; WFP assistant executive director Matthew Hollingworth said the agency "is being forced to make 'impossible choices'" and could halt operations by July. All Africa and Reuters cite supply-chain delays from the Strait of Hormuz closure that have lengthened shipment times for therapeutic milk and RUTF from roughly 30–35 days to 55–65 days and driven up costs. The New Arab, The Independent and Reuters amplify the same risk: IPC and FEWS NET analysis showing districts such as Burhakaba are at risk of famine under a worst-case scenario of failed Gu rains, soaring prices and reduced aid. FEWS NET is quoted saying that seasonal rains "will" likely temporarily stabilise conditions in its most likely scenario but that failed rains "would" let famine rapidly emerge. Taken together, the sources are aligning on scale and drivers: conflict-driven ac

Go deeper

• Which areas in Sudan are closest to crossing into famine and why?
• How long will current WFP operations in Somalia continue without new funding?
• How are drone strikes changing routes and methods for humanitarian deliveries in Sudan?

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