Sudan devalues the Sudanese pound and lifts subsidies for wheat and wheat flour

Ongoing harvests of the 2017/18 main agricultural season are improving household food access in most areas in Sudan, leading to Minimal (IPC Phase 1) or Stressed (IPC Phase 2) outcomes through at least May 2018. Most IDPs in SPLM-N controlled areas of South Kordofan, and in Jebel Marra continue to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes in the harvest period. 

In parts of North Darfur and Kassala, poor seasonal performance led to substantial crop losses in agropastoral areas and very poor regeneration of pasture in pastoral areas. Households are likely to face difficulty meeting their basic food needs as livestock remain in dry season grazing areas and household milk availability is limited. Between now and May 2018, households are likely to face significant difficulty meeting their livelihoods protection needs and will begin to face food consumption gaps indicative of Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes.  

In December 2017, the Government of Sudan announced the devaluation of the Sudanese Pound from 6.7 to 18 SDG/USD, followed by the announcement in early January of the removal of subsides for wheat and wheat flour. Together, these have contributed to significant increases in prices for staple foods, including domestically produced sorghum and millet by approximately 10-20 percent since November. Prices for wheat flour and bread more than doubled on some markets in December. These changes in the macro-economic of the country are likely to result in further increases in staple food prices and reduce poor households’ ability to access food from markets.