Millions of people in Sudan are surviving on just one meal a day as the country’s food crisis deepens amid a prolonged civil war, according to a new report by several international aid organisations.
The report, released on Monday by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and Norwegian Refugee Council, warned that hunger is rapidly worsening in conflict-affected regions.
Sudan’s war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces is entering its third year, triggering one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises and displacing millions of people.
According to the report, the situation is particularly severe in North Darfur and South Kordofan, where millions of families can only manage one meal per day.
“In the two areas worst hit by the conflict — North Darfur and South Kordofan — millions of families can only access one meal a day,” the report said, adding that many residents skip meals for entire days.
Some people have resorted to eating leaves and animal feed to survive, highlighting the severity of the crisis.
The army-aligned Sudanese government has denied the existence of famine, while the RSF has rejected responsibility for conditions in areas under its control.
However, humanitarian data indicates that 61.7 percent of Sudan’s population — about 28.9 million people — is currently facing acute food insecurity, according to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.
The United Nations has also reported widespread atrocities and ethnically driven violence linked to the ongoing conflict.
In November, the global hunger monitoring system, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, confirmed famine conditions in Al-Fashir and Kadugli.
Further analysis in February found that famine thresholds for acute malnutrition had been surpassed in Um Baru and Kernoi. In Um Baru, the proportion of acutely malnourished children under five was nearly double the famine threshold.
The report, based on interviews with farmers, traders, and humanitarian workers across Sudan, said the conflict is pushing communities toward famine conditions by disrupting farming activities and destroying agricultural infrastructure.
Aid organisations also warned that starvation is increasingly being used as a weapon of war, with deliberate destruction of farms, markets, and food supplies reported in several areas.
At the same time, communal kitchens that once supported struggling communities are struggling to meet rising demand, while funding cuts from major donors are limiting the ability of aid agencies to respond effectively.
Women and girls are among the most vulnerable. The report said they face heightened risks of rape and harassment when traveling to farms, markets, or water sources.
Female-headed households are particularly affected, being three times more likely to experience food insecurity than households led by men.
Humanitarian groups are urging the international community to increase funding and ensure safe access for aid deliveries before the crisis escalates further.
