What's happened
As of November 2025, Sudan faces a severe humanitarian crisis with famine confirmed in el-Fasher and Kadugli amid ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Over 21 million people face acute food insecurity, with nearly 375,000 in famine conditions. Fighting in Darfur and Kordofan has displaced tens of thousands, with reports of atrocities and mass civilian deaths.
What's behind the headline?
Conflict-Driven Famine and Displacement
The confirmed famine in el-Fasher and Kadugli marks a grim escalation in Sudan's humanitarian crisis, underscoring how protracted conflict devastates civilian populations. The RSF's sieges and territorial advances have systematically disrupted food supplies and humanitarian access, deepening starvation and malnutrition. The war's ethnic and political dimensions exacerbate violence, with reports of mass killings and attempts to conceal atrocities, such as burning bodies in el-Fasher.
Humanitarian Access and Aid Challenges
Despite urgent appeals, aid delivery remains obstructed, particularly in RSF-controlled areas, worsening conditions for millions. Global donor fatigue and bureaucratic hurdles have reduced funding to just 28% of the humanitarian plan, threatening life-saving operations. Without a ceasefire and expanded aid, famine will likely spread beyond current hotspots.
Regional and Global Implications
The conflict's concentration in Darfur and Kordofan threatens regional stability, with displacement flows toward Khartoum and neighboring areas. The international community faces mounting pressure to respond effectively amid competing global crises. The situation highlights the limits of international mechanisms in preventing famine amid active conflict.
Forecast
Absent a ceasefire and humanitarian corridor, famine conditions will worsen, potentially expanding to other towns like Tawila and Mellit. The RSF's continued offensives suggest the conflict will persist, prolonging civilian suffering. International legal scrutiny, including ICC investigations, may increase, but immediate relief hinges on political resolution and aid access.
What the papers say
The New York Post and The Independent provide detailed accounts of the recent displacement from North Kordofan's Bara area, highlighting the RSF's attacks and the resulting humanitarian fallout. Both cite the International Organization for Migration's estimate of nearly 92,000 people fleeing el-Fasher and surrounding villages, with tens of thousands displaced since late October. AP News corroborates these figures and adds eyewitness reports of RSF fighters entering Babanusa and the decline in families seeking aid there.
The Japan Times, All Africa, SBS, Reuters, and The Independent (Nov 3) focus on the IPC's confirmation of famine in el-Fasher and Kadugli, emphasizing the siege conditions and the collapse of livelihoods. Reuters' Nafisa Eltahir provides context on the IPC's methodology and the broader food insecurity affecting over 21 million Sudanese, noting the partial improvement in central Sudan but deterioration in Darfur and Kordofan. The Independent's Samy Magdy offers a comprehensive overview of the famine criteria and the scale of displacement and malnutrition.
These sources collectively paint a consistent picture of escalating famine amid ongoing conflict, with variations in focus: some emphasize displacement and violence, others the food security metrics and humanitarian response. The reports of RSF atrocities, including mass graves and burning bodies, underscore the conflict's brutality and complicate aid efforts. The ICC's involvement and UN humanitarian appeals add layers of international legal and political dimensions to the crisis.
How we got here
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF, former allies turned rivals after a 2019 uprising. The conflict has killed over 40,000 people and displaced more than 14 million. RSF sieges and attacks, especially in Darfur and Kordofan, have cut off food and aid, triggering famine and widespread malnutrition.
Go deeper
- What caused the famine in Sudan's el-Fasher and Kadugli?
- How is the conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF evolving?
- What is the international response to Sudan's humanitarian crisis?
Common question
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What’s the Latest on Global Crises and Conflicts?
With ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza, understanding the current crises is more important than ever. From famine and violence in Darfur to intense battles over strategic cities in Ukraine, these stories shape our world today. Here are the key questions and answers to keep you informed about the latest developments in these critical regions.
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What’s Causing the Famine and Conflict in Sudan’s El-Fasher and Kadugli?
Sudan is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with famine declared in key cities like El-Fasher and Kadugli. Ongoing fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese army has devastated communities, hampered aid efforts, and led to widespread hunger and displacement. Many are asking what’s behind this crisis, how it’s affecting civilians, and what can be done to bring peace. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about the conflict and humanitarian situation in Sudan.
More on these topics
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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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The Rapid Support Forces are Sudanese paramilitary forces operated by the Sudanese Government. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which fought on behalf of the Sudanese government during the War in Darfur, killing an
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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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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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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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The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.
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Al-Fashir (also alternatively rendered as El Fasher; Arabic: الفاشر, romanized: al-Fāshir) is a city in western Sudan. It serves as the capital of the North Darfur State and is located in the Darfur region of Sudan, and is 195 kilometres (121 mi) n