Sudan on Brink of Famine: Displaced Families Face Worsening Aid Crisis and Hunger

Aisha Adam, a 50-year-old displaced by the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), fears for the well-being of the children in her care, prioritizing their access to food above all else. Forced to flee her home in Khartoum's al-Kalakla neighborhood shortly after the war began on April 15, 2023, Adam's journey led her through Omdurman, where fighting also erupted, eventually bringing her to an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast. She now resides there with her orphaned grandson and nephew.

Adam recounted her desperate search for safety, initially intending to travel to Wad Madani in Gezira state but ultimately boarding a bus to Port Sudan based on its reputation for safety. The ongoing conflict, which aid workers estimate has killed up to 200,000 people and displaced 13 million, has led to famine in various parts of the country. After a temporary stay in a city shelter, Adam and others were relocated to a displacement center on the outskirts of Port Sudan in June, where she shares a tent with the two children under her care and is situated near two other families.

"At the first shelter, I received some assistance from organisations, other agencies and even ordinary people. But things are different here. The aid we receive has decreased significantly, so I had to try to find work to avoid starving to death," Adam told Al Jazeera. Her personal struggle mirrors Sudan's deepening food shortages, a situation underscored by a joint statement from the United States Department of State on October 27, warning of deteriorating food availability and the imminent risk of famine.

The statement highlighted Sudan's alarming food insecurity and the urgent need for action as warned by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Fatima, as she is referred to in the context of her struggle, finds securing food a daily ordeal. Humanitarian assistance over the past six months has been sparse, with aid received on only three occasions: a cash payment of 550,000 Sudanese pounds ($59.13), 12kg of flour, and personal hygiene supplies for women. "I have no choice but to work. There is no one I can rely on. My two sons are missing, and I do not know where they are, while my other son died before the war began," she stated.

Adam now operates a small business near her accommodation, preparing and selling traditional Sudanese fried pastry, zalabia, along with tea and coffee. Her days begin early, heading to the market to sell her goods, with profits often insufficient to cover the costs of ingredients for the next day. The price of basic ingredients like flour, oil, and charcoal, along with a kilogram of lentils, consumes most of her earnings, leaving little for meals. "The important thing is that we eat, even if it is only lentils and water, with nothing else. But my greatest fear is that we will fall ill, because we have no money for treatment," she expressed.

This personal hardship is indicative of a larger crisis affecting millions across Sudan. The World Food Programme (WFP) announced on October 22, 2026, that funding cuts had forced a reduction in monthly food assistance for approximately 900,000 displaced individuals. Currently, an estimated 19.5 million people nationwide face acute hunger, with five million experiencing emergency levels of food shortages. The WFP notes that the risk of famine remains high in critical areas like Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan.

Esraa Mohammed, supervisor of the al-Suraiha 8 IDP camp in al-Obeid, described severe shortages of humanitarian aid and basic necessities for displaced families. The camp houses 450 registered individuals, with an additional 40 new arrivals. Many arrive with inadequate clothing and without food. While some organizations provide limited food assistance, such as cooking oil and peas, these supplies are insufficient for monthly needs, compelling displaced individuals to seek casual work. Mohammed highlighted the dire situation for children in the camp, with 30 out of 100 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and an urgent need for clothing.

Displaced individuals arriving from South Kordofan have reported resorting to eating tree leaves to survive while fleeing RSF attacks, citing fears of murder, detention, and rape. Ahmed Ismail, an expert on the United Nations and NGOs, characterized the humanitarian situation in Sudan as extremely serious, with basic needs far outstripping available support. He described Sudan as facing a complex crisis encompassing famine, displacement, collapsing health services, destroyed livelihoods, and severe violations against civilians. Humanitarian monitoring has shown an increase in civilian deaths, linked to difficulties accessing food, healthcare, and shelter, as well as casualties from attacks, including drone strikes.

Ismail warned that reduced aid and restricted humanitarian access could escalate the crisis into a wider catastrophe, particularly impacting vulnerable populations like children, women, and the elderly in conflict zones. He emphasized that downplaying the severity of conditions in certain areas does not alter the reality of civilian suffering.