Millions of Sudanese Endure Severe Hunger, Surviving on One Meal Daily

As Sudan grapples with a worsening food crisis, millions of citizens are struggling to get by on just one meal each day. This alarming situation, highlighted in a report released Monday by several NGOs, looms over a nation already embroiled in conflict.

The ongoing war, marking its third year on Wednesday, pits the Sudanese army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). It has plunged the country into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, forcing millions to flee and igniting widespread hunger.

In the regions hardest hit by violence, North Darfur and South Kordofan, countless families can only secure a single meal daily, according to the report by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and the Norwegian Refugee Council. “Many skip meals entirely for days,” it noted, with families resorting to consuming leaves and animal feed to stave off hunger.

Government denies famine

The Sudanese government, aligned with the army, has dismissed any claims of famine, while the RSF deflects responsibility for the dire conditions in the territories it controls.

Data from the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan indicates that 61.7% of the population, translating to 28.9 million citizens, faces acute food insecurity. The United Nations has documented extensive atrocities, including ethnic violence, with famine formally recognized last November in el-Fasher and Kadugli. Earlier this year, assessments found famine-level malnutrition in Um Baru and Kernoi, where child malnutrition rates have nearly doubled threshold levels.

Through interviews with farmers, traders, and aid workers, the report outlines how warfare is pushing communities toward catastrophe. Disruptions to agriculture and deliberate attacks on farms and markets act as starvation tactics. The rising demand overwhelms communal kitchens, and dwindling donor funds further hamper relief efforts.

Particularly vulnerable are women and girls, who face heightened risks of sexual violence when performing everyday tasks like farming and gathering water. Female-headed households endure food insecurity at triple the rate of those led by males, underscoring the profound impact on women.