Over 40% of Sudan Population Faces Acute Food Insecurity Through May

A global hunger monitoring group reported Thursday that more than 40% of Sudan's population faces high levels of acute food insecurity through May. The assessment covers the period as the conflict in the country enters its fourth year. The group stated that conditions are expected to deteriorate further in the upcoming June-September lean season.

It warned that an estimated 825,000 children under 5 years old are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2026. That figure represents a 7% increase from last year and a 25% increase compared with prewar levels. More than 98,500 children received treatment for severe acute malnutrition between January and March.

The war in Sudan began in April 2023 after tensions between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led to full-scale armed conflict. At least 59,000 people have been killed and about 13 million displaced, with many parts of the country pushed into famine.

More than 30 million people require humanitarian assistance. The monitoring group found that no area is currently in famine. It identified 14 areas in North Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan as at risk of famine if conflict intensifies, food access worsens, healthcare and sanitation decline, and displacement increases.

Last year, famine was confirmed in el-Fasher in the western Darfur region and in the town of Kadugli in South Kordofan.

Farmers are preparing for an expensive planting season.

Costs of fertilizers, gasoline to power farm equipment and diesel for irrigation pumps have risen due to the conflict in the Middle East. The Gulf region supplies over half of Sudan's sea-imported fertilizer, but hundreds of commercial ships have been stranded for weeks because of Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel prices have increased by around 30%.