The hunger crisis in Sudan is worsening as funding for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has fallen sharply, leaving millions of people at risk of going without adequate food.
According to WFP acting Executive Director Carl Skau, the programme’s budget for Sudan has dropped to about $206 million in 2026, compared with $645 million last year. The agency says it needs nearly $300 million more to maintain its current operations.
The funding shortage comes as Sudan continues to face a devastating war between the country’s army and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has displaced about 14 million people, while nearly 20 million people are facing hunger.
Because of limited resources, WFP has been forced to prioritize the most vulnerable people. The agency aims to assist about 5 million people, but is currently reaching around 4 million, often with only partial food rations.
WFP has warned that the situation could deteriorate further without urgent international support. Its latest Sudan emergency update says almost 19.5 million people face acute food insecurity, with several areas still at risk of famine.
The crisis is also affecting humanitarian operations, with insecurity making it difficult to deliver food and other essential supplies to communities in conflict-affected areas.
