Sudan – About 19.5 million people face acute hunger and the threat of famine looms in 14 regions

He confirmed Integrated classification classification These results confirm the devastating humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has caused the displacement of millions, paralyzed the movement of health services, and imposed severe restrictions on humanitarian access across large parts of the country.

The analysis – which covers the period from February to May 2026 – revealed that about 135,000 people are currently living in conditions that fall under the fifth stage (disaster or famine). More than 5 million people were classified in the fourth stage (emergency stage), while an additional 14 million people were classified in the third stage (crisis stage).

The report stated that Sudan still represents one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world, warning that the situation is likely to deteriorate further during the lean season, which is the period extending between June and September.

Worst case scenario

Although there is currently no area in Sudan officially classified as suffering from famine, the IPC has identified 14 areas in the states of North Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan as being at risk of famine under “a plausible worst-case scenario, a scenario characterized by an escalation in the intensity of the conflict and the imposition of further restrictions on humanitarian access and the movement of goods and people.”

Alarming levels of malnutrition in children

The analysis also highlighted alarming levels of malnutrition among children. An estimated 825,000 children under the age of five are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2026; This represents a 7% increase compared to 2025, and a 25% increase over pre-conflict levels recorded during the period between 2021 and 2023.

The Integrated Interim Classification of Food Security attributed the worsening nutrition crisis to the continuation of violence, deteriorating living conditions, and declining access to treatment services.

The conflict continues to severely disrupt civil life across Sudan; According to the report, more than 8.9 million people have been internally displaced since the outbreak of fighting, while about 40% of health facilities have stopped working.

Impact of conflict in the Middle East

The crisis in Sudan has also been exacerbated by broader regional instability. The Integrated Interim Classification of Food Security indicated that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East region has contributed to the rise in fuel, food and fertilizer prices, which has put additional pressure on the Sudanese economy and its food systems, which are already fragile.

Humanitarian organizations continue to face major challenges in reaching vulnerable populations, especially in conflict-affected areas. The interim classification stated that limited humanitarian access has hampered both aid delivery and reliable data collection in some of the most affected areas.

Improving food security depends on stopping the violence

The report stressed the need to take urgent action – to stop hostilities, improve access, and expand aid – to prevent further deterioration. Otherwise, any significant improvement in the food security and nutrition situation in Sudan during 2026 is highly unlikely.”

The full report on the food security situation in Sudan will be issued in the coming days.

What is the interim classification of food security?

The taxonomy is worked on by experts from 19 UN agencies – from the World Health Organization to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – and four donor countries that together collect and analyze data to measure food insecurity and better target effective responses.

This system is a way to simplify data on food security, nutrition and mortality in a way that decision makers can understand in order to take appropriate action. For humanitarian agencies, the integrated classification system is an essential element in shaping humanitarian response plans.

The Food Security Index tracks hunger, but it can also sound the alarm ahead of the potential spread of acute malnutrition to avoid it turning into more serious, life-threatening conditions.