Famine looms over additional regions in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur as a global hunger tracking group warned of escalating food insecurity on Thursday. In a separate incident, an assault by paramilitary forces on a military hospital in the country’s southern region resulted in the tragic deaths of 22 individuals, including the hospital’s director and three medical staff members.
Sudan has been embroiled in conflict since April 2023, following a power struggle between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), sparking what the United Nations has labeled the most severe humanitarian crisis globally.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released a recent report indicating that two more towns in Darfur have reached famine-level acute malnutrition. While the situation is dire, the classification of full famine in these towns has not been confirmed.
Last year, the IPC reported that residents of El Fasher, a major city in Darfur, were experiencing famine after being overrun by paramilitary forces following an extended siege.
The attack in Kouik, South Kordofan province, resulted in the death of 22 individuals, with eight others sustaining injuries. The Sudan Doctors’ Network highlighted that the assault is part of a series of attacks in the region, rendering several hospitals inoperable.
The conflict in Sudan has claimed over 40,000 lives according to the UN, though aid agencies suggest the actual toll could be significantly higher. More than 14 million people have been displaced from their homes due to the ongoing violence.
The recent IPC report revealed famine-like malnutrition levels in Umm Baru and Kernoi in North Darfur province. In Umm Baru, almost half of children between six months and five years are suffering from acute malnutrition, surpassing the famine threshold of 30%. In Kernoi, 32% of children are also experiencing malnutrition.
The IPC report underscored the increased risk of mortality due to the alarming rates of malnutrition and expressed concerns about similar conditions in neighboring areas. Access and data limitations have hindered the confirmation of a full famine in Umm Baru and Kernoi.
The fall of El Fasher to the RSF triggered a mass exodus of people to nearby towns, straining resources and exacerbating food insecurity rates. The IPC emphasized the urgent need for a sustained ceasefire to prevent further suffering and loss of life in affected areas of Sudan.
Experts define famine based on specific criteria including malnutrition-related deaths, severe food shortages, and high rates of acute malnutrition among children under five. The IPC has only confirmed famine a few times, most recently in northern Gaza in 2025 during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Since the capture of El Fasher, fighting has shifted to various areas in Kordofan. The Sudanese military has made recent gains in the region, breaking sieges in Kadugli and Dilling. Efforts are underway to rally international support for humanitarian aid in Sudan, with the United States and the UN launching a new Sudan Humanitarian Fund backed by significant contributions.
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