Khartoum, Sudan, February 5, 2026 – The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) alert has confirmed that Um Baru and Kernoi localities in North Darfur are now experiencing famine-level malnutrition, marking a national humanitarian tragedy. This development reflects nearly three years of ongoing conflict, economic collapse, and limited humanitarian access, which have pushed millions of Sudanese families to the brink and placed Sudan at the top of the IRC’s Emergency Watchlist for the third consecutive year.
Sudan’s food security crisis has worsened despite repeated warnings from the international humanitarian community. Over 21 million people across the country are currently facing high levels of acute food insecurity. In regions such as Darfur and Kordofan, chronic violence, skyrocketing inflation, restricted access, and displacement have intensified food scarcity to catastrophic levels. Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates in some areas now exceed 30 percent, well above the 15 percent emergency threshold, indicating famine-level malnutrition, particularly among children and pregnant women.
The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted household livelihoods and local food systems. Food stocks are depleted, prices have surged, and families are increasingly resorting to desperate measures to survive. These conditions are worsened by the collapse of essential services, including health care, water and sanitation, and nutrition treatment, particularly in areas under siege or with restricted humanitarian access.
Richard Data, IRC Sudan Country Director, emphasized the urgent humanitarian need, stating that immediate, scaled-up assistance—including cash, food, nutrition support, and lifesaving health care—is essential to prevent more communities from falling into famine. He called on all conflict parties to ensure unfettered humanitarian access and prioritize the protection of civilians, while urging the international community to provide funding, negotiate access, and deliver sustained humanitarian support to prevent further loss of life.
Since the conflict began in 2023, the IRC has adapted its programs and scaled up responses to meet growing humanitarian needs. Despite operational challenges, the organization continues to provide support in Blue Nile, Gedaref, Khartoum, River Nile, South Kordofan, and White Nile states and is working to re-establish its presence in Jazera state. The IRC maintains an office in Port Sudan and is expanding its operations into other states, including Darfur, to reach communities in urgent need.
