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Key messages
Key Message Update July 2026 - January 2027 Conflict and poor rainfall to drive Emergency and risk of Famine through January Download report
  • Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are expected to remain widespread through September across North Darfur; parts of Central, South, and East Darfur; much of Greater Kordofan; and Blue Nile as the lean season reaches its August-September peak. Some populations are facing Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) outcomes in Um Baru, Kernoi, and At-Tine of North Darfur; Dilling, Kadugli of South Kordofan and surrounding rural areas; El-Obeid and surrounding areas of North Kordofan; and among some internally displaced populations (IDPs) in Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, driven by intensified conflict, displacement, restricted livelihood access, and constrained commercial and humanitarian access. 
  • The arrival of harvests in October is expected to partially mitigate the severity of outcomes; however, Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and worse outcomes will persist along active front lines given the scale of disruption to agricultural engagement compounded by below-average rainfall. In other areas of western Sudan, persistent conflict, expanding drone use, and El-Niño-linked below-average rains are expected to limit harvests and sustain widespread Crisis (IPC Phase 3) during the typical harvesting period. In calmer eastern areas, access to harvests and income from agricultural labor will ease consumption gaps, supporting Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes.
  • There is a credible risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5) in seven areas of northwestern and central North Darfur, as well as in Dilling and Kadugli towns of South Kordofan and nearby rural areas. Many households already face large to extreme food consumption deficits, and acute malnutrition is near or above the Extremely Critical (GAM ≥30 percent) threshold in some areas. Ongoing insecurity and displacement in northwestern North Darfur are a warning signal of the rising credibility of this scenario. If conflict escalates or severe sieges resume and block population movement and trade for a prolonged time, worsening food consumption deficits and hunger-related mortality, alongside already extreme acute malnutrition, would likely result in Famine (IPC Phase 5). The arrival of the harvests is expected to ease the risk in parts of Greater Kordofan and central North Darfur, but not in northwestern North Darfur given the severity of livelihood disruption. However, if the remainder of the rainy season fails to meaningfully reduce existing rainfall deficits - particularly alongside escalating conflict - the risk of Famine (IPC Phase 5) will persist through January in all affected areas.
  • Escalating conflict, shifts in territorial control, and sustained drone strikes continue to disrupt livelihoods and population movements in July. In North Kordofan, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), with allied Joint Forces, retook multiple towns between Khartoum and besieged El-Obeid, securing control of the long-contested strategic Al-Sadirat Highway linking Khartoum and El-Obeid and opening key logistical and supply routes to El-Obeid. However, clashes and drone strikes continued in and around the town. In North and West Darfur, fighting further intensified: Rapid Support Forces (RSF)  continue to conduct operations in northwestern North Darfur, displacing over 2,500 people to Chad. SAF-aligned Darfur Joint Forces reportedly ambushed RSF supply convoys near the Sudan-Libya-Egypt border triangle, while further south, they recaptured Kulbus from the RSF, causing increased displacement and effectively extending the front lines southward from northwest North Darfur into West Darfur as both sides mobilized troops into the area. Drone strikes on At-Tine (North Darfur) and in Chad caused deaths and displacement, likely further inflaming tensions between the two countries. In Blue Nile, SAF regained control of Kurmuk, slowing the RSF-SPLM-N advance along the Ethiopian border toward central Sudan. Across all of these major frontlines, territorial gains are fragile and likely to shift as both sides continue to mobilize reinforcements. 
  • Sudan’s 2026/27 agricultural season is off to a poor and uneven start, driven by delayed and below-average cumulative rainfall compounded by conflict, insecurity, and high input costs and shortages. Rains arrived 20-30 days late in North Darfur and North Kordofan and 10-20 days late across much of South, Central, and West Darfur, with rainfall in North Darfur and parts of North Kordofan ranking as the driest in the 40-year record (through mid-August forecast). Rainfall improved slightly in the eastern and central parts of the country in July but remains below average. Planting is lagging accordingly: about two weeks behind normal in Al-Gedaref, Sennar, Blue Nile, Kassala, and parts of White Nile and South Kordkofan; three weeks to a month behind in southern North Darfur and northern West Darfur; and parts of West and North Kordofan; and largely stalled or minimal across much of North Darfur and northern North Kodofan. In areas of heavy conflict mirroring the front lines, displacement and access to fields are preventing agricultural engagement. This delayed planting risks shortening the growing season and raising pest damage risk, especially in North Darfur and North Kordofan where growing seasons are already short.  
  • Staple food and fuel prices continued to rise across Sudan in July 2026, further weakening household purchasing power amid persistent inflation, conflict, market disruptions, and cash liquidity challenges. Fuel prices on the parallel market remained more than double the levels in February 2026. Retail food prices are being driven up by increased transport costs and severe conflict- and weather-related disruptions to main trade routes and commercial flows (particularly into western Sudan), combined with seasonal declines in availability. Between June and July, sorghum, millet, and wheat flour prices increased by 5-13 percent and were 45-60 percent higher than February 2026. Markets remain largely functional although limited by supply chain disruptions and high levels of price volatility, particularly in Diling and Delami (South Kordofan). 
  • Health and nutrition outcomes continue to deteriorate, aggravated by the progression of the lean and rainy seasons. A recent WASH Cluster assessment in Al-Karama IDP site (Blue Nile) found critical unmet needs in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services driven by rapid displacement, overcrowding, and inadequate services, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. A rapidly expanding cholera outbreak has led to more than 1,330 confirmed cases and 114 deaths as of early July, with cases concentrated in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, and particularly in El-Obeid due to the scale of displacement, overcrowding, health service gaps, and large to extreme food consumption gaps. Across the country, SMART surveys continue to highlight elevated Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) prevalence. Of the 19 surveys conducted in 2026 to date, nearly half exceed the Critical threshold (15-29.9 percent) and are disproportionately concentrated in western Sudan. The most recent surveys in June and July found GAM prevalences of 26.6 percent in Beida (West Darfur) and 19.1 percent in Adila (East Darfur), while slightly lower in Omdurman in Khartoum (15.6 percent), Wasat Jebel Marrah in Central Darfur (11.8 percent), and Um Rimta in White Nile (6.2 percent). 
  • In June, humanitarian partners reached 3.7 million people with assistance, the highest number in 2026 to date, but still extremely insufficient relative to need (less than 20 percent of FEWS NET’s estimated population in need). Distributions in Greater Darfur continue to account for over half of all beneficiaries, driven by high needs and sustained access via Chad – given extension of border crossing and bridge repairs – and routes from Northern State. While needs are high in Greater Kordofan, the region remains exceptionally difficult to reach and accounted for 6.5 percent of assistance in June. No in-kind assistance has reached West Kordofan in 2026 to date. 
More analysis reports View all Sudan food security analysis reports
Monthly analysis
Food Security Outlook Sudan June 2026 - January 2027
Key Message Update Sudan May - September 2026
Food Security Outlook Update Sudan April - September 2026
Alerts / special reports
FEWS NET Analysis Note Sudan February 2026
Alert Sudan September 5, 2025
Special Report Global June 23, 2025
Monthly analysis
Food Security Outlook Sudan June 2026 - January 2027
Key Message Update Sudan May - September 2026
Food Security Outlook Update Sudan April - September 2026
Alerts / special reports
FEWS NET Analysis Note Sudan February 2026
Alert Sudan September 5, 2025
Special Report Global June 23, 2025
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Acute Food Insecurity Area-Level Classifications

FEWS NET produces IPC-compatible area-level acute food insecurity classifications monthly for FEWS NET reporting countries. This data is available as spatial files, tabular files, and map images. It is a key output of FEWS NET integrated food security analysis and is reported in our Food Security Outlooks and Outlook Updates (FSO/U) and Key Message Updates (KMU).

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Acutely Food Insecure Population Estimates

These estimates reflect the total population estimated to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity outcomes, including those who are receiving humanitarian food assistance and those who are not. This tabular data is a key output of FEWS NET integrated food security analysis and is reported in our FSOs, global Food Assistance Outlook Briefs (FAOB), and semi-annual global Peak Food Assistance Needs Outlook Briefs.

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Seasonal Monitor reports

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Agroclimatology data

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Livelihoods resources

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Sudan 2014 Livelihood Zones Map (.PNG)
Livelihood Zone maps

Zone Maps illustrate the country by zone, showing areas where people generally have the same options for obtaining food and income and engaging in trade.

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Livelihood Profiles

Profiles briefly describe wealth groups and compare the various sources of food and income particular to each. The Profiles provide a basis for understanding how and whether different groups may be vulnerable to shocks such as drought, flooding, conflict or a market disruption.

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Livelihood Zone Descriptions

Zone Descriptions accompany a Zone Map, briefly describing the main characteristics of the livelihood patterns in that zone. The maps and descriptions are useful in informing the development of monitoring systems.

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Seasonal Calendar

These calendars illustrate the monthly availability of key food and income sources, plus the starts and ends to key rainy and lean seasons. They supplement livelihoods resources and are integral to FEWS NET’s food security analysis.

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Seasonal Calendar image showing harvest and rainy periods for Sudan
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