The United States and 30 other countries have warned of a worsening food security crisis in Sudan, calling for urgent humanitarian action to prevent famine as fighting between rival armed forces continues to devastate the country.
In a joint statement issued by the US State Department on Monday, the countries expressed concern over what they described as the “alarming deterioration” of food security in Sudan, warning that millions of people face severe hunger and that the situation could worsen in the coming months without immediate intervention.
“The risk of famine in the coming months, as warned by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, needs urgent action,” the statement said. “There is no time to lose to save lives and prevent famine.”
According to the statement, approximately 19.5 million people, representing more than 40 per cent of Sudan’s population, are experiencing acute food insecurity. Of these, around five million people are facing emergency levels of hunger, placing them at heightened risk as access to food and humanitarian assistance remains a major concern.
The countries also warned that the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could exceed the projected 825,000 if urgent measures are not taken to reverse the current situation. They further cautioned that the number of areas affected by food insecurity is expected to double.
The humanitarian crisis has been fuelled by the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023. The conflict has triggered widespread displacement, disrupted essential services and severely affected food production and distribution.
Aid workers estimate that more than 200,000 people have been killed and over 13 million displaced since the conflict began, making Sudan the scene of one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.
In their statement, the 31 countries called on both warring parties to remove obstacles preventing aid from reaching vulnerable communities. They urged the forces to ensure humanitarian workers can operate safely and that assistance reaches those in need without unnecessary delays or restrictions.
The signatories called for “full, safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access” and demanded protection for humanitarian personnel working to deliver essential supplies.
The statement was signed by the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The warning adds to growing international concern over the impact of Sudan’s prolonged conflict on civilians, particularly children and families already struggling to obtain sufficient food, clean water and other basic necessities.
