The humanitarian situation in El Fasher, Sudan, is rapidly worsening, with hunger growing alarmingly and putting civilians’ lives at risk. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned of this deteriorating crisis. Edem Wosornu, OCHA’s Director of Operations and Advocacy, currently in Sudan, described the immense suffering faced by people who are trapped, displaced, or returning to devastated communities. She emphasized the urgent need for unimpeded access and support to assist those enduring hardship on the frontlines.
At the UN Headquarters in New York, Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq highlighted the severity of food shortages and soaring prices in El Fasher. Reports indicate that some residents are resorting to eating animal feed amid the catastrophic conditions. The cost of basic goods in El Fasher is nearly $1,000 per household monthly, with food alone exceeding $700—over eight times the price in other regions. These inflated costs, combined with a year-long siege and restricted aid deliveries, have left thousands facing starvation. The UN continues to urge for a pause in hostilities to enable humanitarian access.
In response to public health risks, UN partners and local authorities launched a sanitation campaign on August 5 targeting 11,000 people in El Fasher and Dar As Salam, aiming to prevent disease outbreaks in overcrowded displacement sites during the rainy season. Efforts are also intensifying to contain a cholera outbreak in Tawila, which has received 330,000 displaced individuals fleeing conflict since April. Meanwhile, Blue Nile State has reported nearly 2,800 cholera cases since late June, including 14 deaths, with new infections continuing to emerge.
The crisis has also been described as a “gender emergency” by UN Women. Salvator Nkurunziza, the agency’s representative in Sudan, warned that displaced women and girls face heightened risks of exploitation and abuse, particularly where protection mechanisms are weak during aid delivery. Since April 2023, over 1,100 cases of rape—including 193 involving children—have been recorded in conflict-affected areas, with actual numbers likely higher due to stigma and underreporting.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the crisis, especially regarding food insecurity. Gender-based violence can hinder their access to food assistance, worsening their vulnerability. Female-headed households, which are already three times more likely to experience food insecurity, now represent the hungriest demographic in Sudan. As primary caregivers in displacement settings, women’s compromised ability to secure food threatens the survival of entire households.
