Drought Is Reducing Food Security Across Sudan

On October 12, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued a new warning about deteriorating conditions across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan.

According to the IPC alert, severe drought associated with El Niño is affecting more than half of Sudan, compounding the consequences of ongoing conflict.

For agricultural communities, insufficient rainfall can mean damaged crops, reduced harvests and declining income.

The consequences can continue long after the rainy season.

When households produce less food, they may need to purchase more from markets. But conflict can also disrupt those markets, restrict transport and increase prices.

In areas already affected by displacement, families may have lost access to farmland, livestock or the income that previously helped them meet their daily needs.

Drought and war are therefore placing pressure on both sides of the food-security problem: families' ability to produce food and their ability to obtain it.

What the Latest Famine Warning Means

The October IPC alert identifies worsening food insecurity and acute malnutrition across parts of Darfur and Kordofan.

To understand the scale of the crisis, the IPC's earlier nationwide assessment provides important context.

Between February and May 2026:

Nearly 19.5 million people were experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.

More than 5 million people were classified in IPC Phase 4, or Emergency.

Approximately 135,000 people were in IPC Phase 5, or Catastrophe.

These figures describe the February–May assessment period. They are not a new nationwide count for October.

There is also an important distinction between households experiencing Catastrophic food insecurity and an area being officially classified as experiencing Famine.

A Famine classification requires several evidence thresholds to be met. The October alert warned of growing famine risk; it did not automatically classify every area of concern as being in Famine.

What the warning makes clear is that communities already facing severe hunger are experiencing additional pressure from declining food availability, displacement, insecure markets and limited humanitarian assistance.

When Civilian Areas Become Unsafe

The challenges facing Sudanese families extend far beyond agricultural production.

On October 9, authorities in Blue Nile State reported that 30 civilians had been killed in a drone attack in the Wad El Mahi locality, near Abu Shandi.

The incident was reported by Radio Dabanga, which also noted that preliminary accounts of the casualties differed.

During the same period, Radio Dabanga reported six civilians injured in a drone attack on El Obeid in North Kordofan.

In Babanusa, West Kordofan, four displaced people were reported killed by an unexploded landmine. According to the reporting, they had travelled to the area after hearing that relief assistance was available.

These incidents occurred in different locations and circumstances, but they highlight a common danger: displaced families can remain exposed to violence while seeking shelter, food or other essential assistance.

Insecurity can force people to move again, restrict their access to markets and make humanitarian operations more difficult.

Humanitarian Workers Are Also at Risk

Delivering assistance in Sudan has become increasingly dangerous for humanitarian personnel.

On October 13, Sudanese Red Crescent volunteer Baderaldain Omer Musa Ibrahim was killed in Blue Nile State.

According to an October 16 statement from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, he had served as an emergency volunteer for six years and was providing first aid at a health centre in the Um Darfa area when the incident occurred, following a reported bombing.

His death highlights the risks faced by local volunteers who continue supporting their communities during active conflict.

The October 3 attack on WFP trucks in South Kordofan adds another dimension to those risks.

One day before that attack, a separate WFP-contracted vehicle struck an explosive device in Dilling after completing a food delivery.

When humanitarian routes become unsafe, the consequences can reach beyond the people directly affected by an attack.

Food deliveries may be disrupted, transport becomes more difficult, and humanitarian organizations face additional obstacles in reaching communities with urgent needs.

Why Humanitarian Access Matters for Food Security

Sudan's food crisis cannot be addressed through food production alone.

Families also need functioning markets, safe transport routes, access to clean water and healthcare, and reliable humanitarian assistance when they cannot meet their needs independently.

A successful harvest in one area does not automatically provide food to a displaced household in another.

Food must be transported. Markets must remain accessible. Families need the means to purchase what is available.

For those relying on humanitarian support, assistance must be able to reach them safely.

The October IPC warning emphasizes the importance of sustained funding and humanitarian access as food insecurity and malnutrition worsen in affected areas.

Protecting civilians, relief workers and essential infrastructure is therefore inseparable from efforts to reduce hunger.

How AMEL Foundation Supports Communities in Sudan

AMEL Foundation works with local partners to support communities affected by conflict, displacement and humanitarian emergencies.

Its documented activities include food distributions, community kitchens, water and sanitation interventions, healthcare and orphan-support programmes.

These efforts help address practical needs among communities experiencing disruptions to food, water and essential services.

AMEL's work is one part of Sudan's wider humanitarian response. It should not be confused with the specific WFP or Red Crescent operations described in this article.

As drought and insecurity continue to affect vulnerable communities, sustained support for verified humanitarian programmes remains important.

Learn more about AMEL Foundation's Food Security programmes and how you can support families in Sudan.

The October warnings highlight two equally urgent needs: sufficient resources to support families and conditions that allow assistance to reach them safely.

Without both, the distance between available help and the people who need it can continue to grow.