Sudan faces famine as families flee violence and displacement

Families in Sudan are facing dire conditions as violence and famine force them into displacement. Marasi Alfadil, who fled el-Fasher in North Darfur, described her arrival in Omdurman: "There was almost nothing waiting for them." She found shelter in a half-finished building with little food and no services, stating, "But for Marasi, it is still safer than the city she fled."

The situation escalated when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of el-Fasher after an 18-month siege, leading to widespread violence and a humanitarian crisis. A United Nations investigation noted that the RSF takeover bore the "hallmarks of genocide." Currently, hundreds of thousands remain in el-Fasher, facing severe food shortages and violence. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared a famine in November, with similar conditions reported in Kadugli and other areas.

The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises indicated that conflict in Darfur and Kordofan has severely restricted humanitarian access, resulting in devastating effects on food security. By September, approximately 375,000 people were experiencing extreme hunger, particularly in North Darfur, South Kordofan, and West Kordofan. Displacement has left millions reliant on inconsistent aid, with the UN estimating that nearly 25 million people are facing crisis levels of food shortages or worse by 2025.

As families like Taqwa's struggle to survive, the ongoing violence and funding shortages for aid agencies exacerbate their plight. Taqwa, who fled Heglig with her newborn twins, lamented, "Feeding two infants is hard. I don’t have money to buy meat."

Power Read: The RSF's consolidation of power in Sudan has created a humanitarian crisis that strengthens their leverage over the population, while the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) face challenges in maintaining control. The ongoing violence and famine expose the fragility of the state and the dire need for international intervention. As the humanitarian situation worsens, the RSF may exploit the chaos to further entrench their position, while the SAF risks losing credibility and support among civilians.

What to watch: The international community's response to the escalating humanitarian crisis and potential interventions to address the famine and displacement in Sudan.