WHO warns Sudan famine could spread across the country

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has issued a grave warning that famine conditions confirmed in parts of Sudan could extend to other regions of the country and potentially affect neighboring South Sudan. In a statement on social media platform X, the WHO chief stressed that "famine means we are already too late, and people are beginning to die from the effects of undernutrition," calling for immediate scaled-up food assistance.

Humanitarian Crisis Drivers

The deepening famine stems from multiple interconnected factors including prolonged armed conflict, mass forced displacement, economic instability, and climate-related shocks that collectively drive "alarming levels of food insecurity." Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian access, noting that "there are limitations to what we can do without humanitarian access" to reach affected populations with life-saving assistance.

Confirmed Famine Areas and Conflict Context

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine has been officially declared in El-Fasher and the besieged town of Kadugli. The International Criminal Court has separately warned that reported atrocities in El-Fasher may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. These developments occur amid ongoing hostilities between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which recently gained control of Bara and El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

Broader Regional Impact

The conflict between Sudanese military factions that began on April 15, 2023, has resulted in thousands of fatalities and displaced millions throughout the region. The WHO warning highlights how the humanitarian crisis transcends national borders, with famine conditions potentially spreading to South Sudan, further complicating regional stability and requiring coordinated international response efforts to address the escalating food security emergency.