FAO GIEWS Country Brief on Sudan –

FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT Dire food security situation, with risk of famine in 14 areas Concerns for 2026 cereal production due to dry weather conditions, insecurity and persisting input shortages Below‑average cereal production in 2025 due to input shortages Cereal prices at exceptionally high levels Dire food security situation, with risk of famine in 14 areas According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis about 19.5 million people, over 40 percent of the analysed population, were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between February and May 2026, including about 5 million people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 135 000 people in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe). Although a nationwide projection for the June‑September lean season has not been carried out due to data gaps, 14 areas in North Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan states were considered at risk of famine during the lean season under a worst‑case scenario, involving heightened violence and increased displacements. The main driver of the dire food security situation is the ongoing conflict. Since its start in April 2023, the conflict has severely disrupted livelihoods, destroyed key economic infrastructures, constrained humanitarian access and triggered large‑scale population displacements, with about 8.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) estimated as of end‑July 2026. Concerns for 2026 cereal production due to dry weather conditions, insecurity and persisting input shortages Planting of the 2026 cereal crops, for harvest from November 2026, has been concluded in mid‑August. The June‑September rainy season has been characterized so far by below‑average cumulative rainfall amounts over most cropping areas, affecting crop germination and establishment. Significant rainfall deficits occurred in southeastern key‑cropping areas. In Sennar and Gedaref states, which together account on average for about a quarter of the national o