The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the critical levels of child malnutrition in Sudan, particularly in North Darfur and Greater Kordofan. The acute malnutrition crisis in these areas has been exacerbated by ongoing armed conflict, raising fears of a broader famine across the country if immediate interventions are not made. The UN’s concerns are underpinned by data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which shows that malnutrition rates have exceeded critical levels following the paramilitary takeover of El Fasher in October 2025. The crisis is spreading, with famine confirmed in Kadugli and dire conditions predicted in Dilling and the Western Nuba Mountains.
UN experts have linked these alarming malnutrition rates to the escalating violence between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has led to the destruction of vital food systems and the collapse of infrastructure supporting health and water supplies. With the conflict disrupting markets and exacerbating food scarcity, the UN has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the facilitation of large-scale humanitarian aid to avert a humanitarian catastrophe. The urgency of this appeal reflects the scale of the crisis, with nearly 30 million Sudanese citizens in need of urgent assistance, as noted in previous UN reports.
Beyond the immediate concerns of starvation, the conflict between the SAF and RSF, which began in 2023, has plunged Sudan into a multifaceted humanitarian crisis. This includes widespread civilian casualties, disease outbreaks, and severe displacement. The situation deteriorated after the RSF’s capture of El Fasher, marked by numerous human rights violations and potential war crimes, as outlined by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. The diversion of humanitarian funds for weapons and the use of child soldiers have further compounded civilian suffering, underscoring the need for international intervention. In the midst of this turmoil, the human cost of the conflict remains a pressing concern as the country approaches three years of sustained turmoil, demanding urgent international attention to address these complex challenges such as described here.
Facing these harsh realities, both local authorities and international stakeholders are urged to align efforts to provide immediate relief and address the underlying causes of the conflict. The hope is that through coordinated humanitarian action and a sustainable peace process, the cycle of violence and malnutrition can be broken, paving the way for a more stable and prosperous future for Sudan’s vulnerable populations.