Sudan's famine spreads: 25 million food-insecure, 13 million displaced, 20+ areas at famine risk
The world's largest displacement and hunger crisis deepens as the war outpaces every truce plan; famine confirmed in El Fasher and Kadugli, Tawila overwhelmed
Summary
The Sudan War sustains the world's largest hunger and displacement crisis. The UN counts roughly 25 million people in severe food insecurity and more than 13 million internally displaced, with over 4 million having fled abroad. The IPC has confirmed Famine (Phase 5) in El Fasher and Kadugli, with more than 20 areas in or at risk of famine, including Tawila, Melit and At Tawisha. Nearly 71,000 people fled El Fasher and its surroundings since late October toward Tawila, ~70 km away, where families sleep in the open with depleted food stocks and scarce clean water. Aid access is severely constrained by both the RSF and army, and the crisis is spreading with the war rather than stabilising.
By the numbers
- ~25M — people in severe food insecurity.
- 13M+ — internally displaced; 4.4M+ fled to neighbouring countries.
- 20+ — areas in or at risk of famine (IPC Phase 5).
- ~71,000 — people who fled El Fasher area toward Tawila since late October.
Why it matters
Famine here is engineered by access denial, not just crop failure — making it a method of war. The displacement load destabilises Chad, South Sudan and Egypt. A fall of el-Obeid would add a new famine front in Kordofan.
What to watch
- Whether the 2026 response plan's funding gap narrows or aid pipelines collapse.
- New IPC famine classifications in Kordofan if el-Obeid is besieged.
- Cross-border displacement pressure on Chad and South Sudan.