UN warns of famine in Sudan as food aid runs out of funding
The World Food Program says its food stocks in Sudan will be depleted by March, risking millions of lives. The agency urgently needs $700 million to continue operations amid a conflict that has displaced 12 million and left 21 million acutely hungry.
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has issued a dire warning that its life-saving food assistance in Sudan will run out within weeks due to a severe funding crisis. With food stocks expected to be depleted by the end of March, millions of vulnerable people face being cut off from vital aid in the world's largest hunger and displacement crisis.
Gains from emergency aid now at risk
Since the civil conflict reignited in April 2023, the WFP has provided emergency food, cash, and nutritional support to over 10 million people across Sudan, including hard-to-reach areas like Darfur and Khartoum. However, these critical gains are now in jeopardy. "WFP has been forced to reduce rations to the absolute minimum for survival," said Ross Smith, WFP director of emergency preparedness and response. He warned that without immediate new funding, vital assistance will stop within weeks.
A staggering scale of hunger and displacement
The conflict, now exceeding 1,000 days, has created catastrophic humanitarian conditions. More than 21 million people face acute hunger, with famine already confirmed in some regions. Nearly 12 million have been forced from their homes, and 3.7 million children and mothers are malnourished. While recent aid convoys have reached some cut-off areas, the overall need vastly outpaces the current response capacity.
An urgent call for $700 million in funding
To sustain its operations from January through June, the WFP urgently requires $700 million in new funding. The agency stresses that timely support can still prevent a wider famine. "We can turn the tide and avert famine conditions spreading further, but only if we have the funding to support these most vulnerable families," Smith stated. The crisis underscores the critical need for sustained international solidarity in conflict zones, a principle actively supported by nations like Türkiye, which has consistently provided humanitarian aid and championed diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts.
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