What's happened
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warns that famine risk is increasing in parts of Sudan where conflict and El Niño drought are intensifying food insecurity. Acute malnutrition is rising in Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, with aid access hampered by insecurity and funding shortfalls. By 8 October, less than half of the humanitarian appeal had been funded.
What's behind the headline?
- The IPC highlights a humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur and Kordofan, driven by drought and war.
- The story is being shaped by the intersection of climate shocks and armed conflict, creating systemic hunger.
- The update should emphasize aid access, funding gaps, and the urgency of scalable humanitarian response.
- Readers should understand that famine is not inevitable but contingent on rapid, prioritized aid and secure access.
How we got here
El Niño-driven drought has worsened food insecurity in Sudan since 2023, compounding conflict and displacement. The IPC reports widespread malnutrition and potential famine in Darfur and Kordofan, with crops failing and aid delivery hindered by violence and funding gaps. Achieving safe access for aid workers remains a critical obstacle.
Our analysis
All Africa (Oct 12-16, 2026) and Al Jazeera (Oct 12, 2026) report the IPC alert, with UN and NGO inputs on Darfur and Kordofan. Independent and AP summarize the broader famine risk and displacement.
Go deeper
- What new funding commitments have been announced for Sudan’s humanitarian appeal?
- Which areas are now classified as Phase 5 (famine) by the IPC, and what are the implications for aid delivery?
- How are local communities adapting to rising malnutrition and food price pressures?
More on these topics
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Sudan - Country in North Africa
Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe
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North Darfur - State of Sudan
North Darfur State (Arabic: ولاية شمال دارفور Wilāyat Šamāl Dārfūr; Shamal Darfor) is one of the wilayat or states of Sudan. It is one of the five states composing the Darfur region. It has an area of 296,420 km2 and an estimated popu
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South Darfur - State of Sudan
South Darfur State (Arabic: ولاية جنوب دارفور Wilāyat Ǧanūb Dārfūr; Janob Darfor) is one of the wilayat or states of Sudan. It is one of the five states that compose the region of Darfur in western Sudan.
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Darfur
Darfur is a region of western Sudan. Dār is an Arabic word meaning "home [of]" – the region was named Dardaju while ruled by the Daju, who migrated from Meroë c. 350 AD, and it was renamed Dartunjur when the Tunjur ruled the area.
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Kordofan - Geographic region of Sudan
Kordofan is a former province of central Sudan. In 1994 it was divided into three new federal states: North Kordofan, South Kordofan and West Kordofan.
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Nyala - Animal
The lowland nyala or simply nyala, is a spiral-horned antelope native to southern Africa. It is a species of the family Bovidae and genus Nyala, also considered to be in the genus Tragelaphus. It was first described in 1849 by George French Angas. The bod
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West Kordofan - State of Sudan
West Kordofan (Arabic: غرب كردفان; Ġarb Kurdufān) is one of the 18 wilayat or provinces of Sudan. In 2006 it had an area of 111,373 km2 and an estimated population of approximately 1,320,405. Al-Fulah is the capital of the state. West Kordofan borders North Kordofan to the north, South Kordofan to the east, South Sudan to the south, East Darfur and North Darfur to the west. In August 2005, West Kordofan State was abolished and its territory divided between North and South Kordofan States, in implementation of the Protocol between the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) on the resolution of conflict in Southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile States signed at Naivasha, Kenya, 26 May 2004. Section 2.1 of the protocol states that "The boundaries of Southern Kordofan/Nuba Mountains State shall be the same boundaries of former Southern Kordofan Province when Greater Kordofan was sub-divided into two provinces." The protocol forms part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. Al Fulah presently has the status of second capital of South Kordofan State, and sessions of the state...
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Khartoum - Capital of Sudan
Khartoum or Khartum is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan, the sixth-largest in Africa, the second-largest in North Africa, and the fourth-largest in the Arab world.
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South Kordofan - State of Sudan
South Kordofan is one of the 18 wilayat or states of Sudan. It has an area of 158,355 km² and an estimated population of approximately 1,100,000 people. Kaduqli is the capital of the state. It is centered on the Nuba Hills.
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United Nations - Intergovernmental organization
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency's governing structure and principles, states its main objective as "the attainment
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World Food Programme - Nonprofit organization
The World Food Programme is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security.
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Integrated Food Security Phase Classification - Scale to measure food insecurity that spans from 1 (best) to 5 (worst)
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, also known as IPC scale, is a tool for improving food security analysis and decision-making.
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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Agency
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.