By Micah Jonah
January 16, 2026
Sudan’s humanitarian situation is worsening rapidly as the United Nations warns that food aid could run out within months unless urgent funding is provided.
The World Food Programme on Thursday said it needs 700 million dollars to continue its operations through June. The agency warned that without immediate support, millions of people could be left without access to food, worsening what the UN describes as the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis.
The civil war in Sudan has entered its fourth year, killing tens of thousands and displacing approximately 14 million people. Fighting between the military government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has repeatedly blocked aid deliveries, left many regions, particularly Darfur and central Kordofan, in crisis.
Ross Smith, director of emergency preparedness and response at the World Food Programme, said food rations have already been reduced to the minimum needed to survive. He added that by the end of March, food stocks in Sudan would be depleted and millions would be left without vital assistance unless additional funding is secured.
Over 21 million people in Sudan, nearly half the population, now face acute hunger. Famine has been confirmed in areas where ongoing conflict has made access for aid workers nearly impossible.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, visiting northern Sudan, called for the international community to step up support and help aid agencies deliver critical food assistance.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire have stalled despite involvement from the United States and regional mediators, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, together known as the Quad, along with the United Nations and the European Union. Both the government and the Rapid Support Forces continue to contest control of key territories, with accusations of war crimes against both sides.
The Rapid Support Forces are suspected of mass killings, sexual violence, and widespread destruction after withdrawing from Khartoum, leaving towns in Darfur and central Kordofan devastated.
The international community faces urgent pressure to act as Sudan’s food stocks decline and conflict continues with no sign of resolution.
