GENEVA – The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal for $6 billion to address what officials describe as the worst hunger crisis the world has ever witnessed, driven by Sudan’s ongoing civil war. The funding request, a 40% increase from last year, comes at a time when global aid budgets are under strain, exacerbated by a funding freeze announced by the United States last month.
The 22-month-long conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has displaced nearly 10 million people and pushed half of the country’s 48 million citizens toward severe hunger, with famine conditions reported in several areas.
“Sudan is the Epicentre of the World’s Worst Hunger Crisis”
Addressing diplomats in Geneva via video, World Food Programme (WFP) chief Cindy McCain highlighted the scale of the crisis. “Sudan is now the epicentre of the world’s largest and most severe hunger crisis ever,” she stated, underscoring the urgent need for international intervention.
Historical famines, including the Bengal Famine of 1943 and China’s Great Famine (1959-1961), claimed millions of lives. Sudan now faces a similarly catastrophic scenario, with food shortages worsening amid relentless violence and a collapsed economy.
Famine and Conflict Intensify in Darfur
According to a UN statement, famine conditions have already been identified in at least five locations, including displacement camps in Darfur. The situation deteriorated further last week when RSF forces attacked one of these camps, tightening their hold over the region.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that Sudan’s crisis requires an unprecedented global response, both in terms of scale and urgency. “This is a humanitarian disaster unlike anything we have seen before, and it demands an equally historic level of action,” he said.
Funding Uncertainty Amid US Aid Restrictions
Despite the pressing need, securing funding remains a major challenge. While some aid agencies have been granted waivers to continue operations in Sudan, uncertainty persists over how much humanitarian assistance can bypass the recently imposed US funding restrictions.
The UN’s latest humanitarian response plan aims to assist nearly 21 million people within Sudan—its most ambitious effort yet—and requires $4.2 billion. The remaining funds will be allocated to support millions of refugees displaced by the conflict.
With famine spreading and violence escalating, aid groups warn that delays in funding and international inaction could result in millions of preventable deaths. The coming months will be critical in determining whether Sudan’s crisis can be contained—or if it will spiral into an even greater catastrophe.
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