Famine declared in two Sudanese cities cut off by war

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The United Nations has declared famine in two Sudanese cities that have been riddled by fighting and have been cut off from aid, or are under siege.

However, food security has begun to improve in areas where fighting has subsided, according to a UN-backed IPC food security analysis.

The UN says the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and child rights agency UNICEF say famine conditions have been confirmed in Darfur’s El Fasher and Kadugli, where “people have endured months without reliable access to food or medical care”.

The IPC’s Famine Review Committee (FRC) found that famine conditions are occurring in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, and Kadugli in South Kordofan, which have been largely cut off due to conflict.

The UN agencies noted that conditions in Dilling, South Kordofan, “are likely similar to Kadugli, but cannot be classified due to insufficient reliable data – a result of restricted humanitarian access and ongoing hostilities.”

In the Western Nuba Mountains, conditions have shown marginal improvement, but famine remains high unless humanitarian access improves.

Ceasefire calls

UN chief António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan on November 4, 2025, as disturbing images of apparent mass killings in El Fasher and elsewhere continue to circulate online.

In a tweet, Guterres appealed to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Forces “to come to the negotiating table to bring an end to this nightmare of violence”.

An infographic titled "More than 62,000 people displaced in recent days in El-Fasher" created in Ankara, Turkiye on November 3, 2025.

Guterres’ calls followed those of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) executive secretary Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, who on October 28, 2025, expressed deep concern over the worsening situation in El-Fasher, North Darfur, following reports that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of the city.

Workneh also strongly condemned all acts of violence against civilians and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

Fighting since 2023

Heavy fighting erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the rival armies, which has created a massive humanitarian disaster.

Last week saw the fall of government-held El Fasher after over 500 days of siege by rebels.

Hundreds of civilians, including humanitarian workers, are believed to have been killed, and many others are trapped behind barricades.

Over 36,000 civilians have fled the city since October 26, 2025, when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the army's last stronghold in the Darfur region, triggering warnings from the UN and humanitarian groups of possible mass killings and ethnic cleansing.

Some have sought refuge in Tawila, a town about 70km to the west that is already sheltering some 650,000 displaced people.

In satellite phone interviews with AFP, three survivors who reached Tawila described scenes of terror and loss during their escape from a city besieged by the RSF for 18 months, cut off from food, medicine and other aid.

Last week, about 460 patients and companions were, according to UN humanitarians, reportedly found slain in a maternity hospital amid reports of continued atrocities against civilians in Sudan's El Fasher.

Millions still going hungry

The IPC analysis confirmed that about 21.2 million people in Sudan (45 per cent of the population) are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, representing a slight improvement.

Also, an estimated 3.4 million people are no longer facing crisis levels of hunger.

The improvements follow a gradual stabilisation since May in three states: Khartoum, Al Jazirah and Sennar, where conflict has eased and families are returning, among other developments, according to the UN.

“But these gains are limited,” the UN agencies said.  “The wider crisis has shattered the economy and vital services, and much of the infrastructure people rely on has been damaged or destroyed.”

Fragile improvements

The UN also said favourable crop growing conditions are expected after the harvest and into next year, with crisis levels of hunger improving to 19.3 million through January.

They warned, however, that “these fragile improvements are highly localised” as many returning families in Khartoum and Al Jazirah have lost everything and will struggle to benefit from the harvest.

At the same time, active conflict persists in western regions, notably North and South Darfur as well as West and South Kordofan.

Meanwhile, hunger is expected to worsen starting in February as food stocks run out and fighting continues.

Famine in besieged areas

The FRC projects a risk of famine in 20 additional areas across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, including rural localities, displacement camps and several new locations in East Darfur and South Kordofan.

According to the UN, Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates are alarmingly high, ranging from 38 to 75 per cent in El Fasher and reaching nearly 30 per cent in Kadugli.

This is happening as outbreaks of cholera, malaria and measles continue to rise in areas where health, water and sanitation systems have collapsed.