32 Governments Warn of Sudan Famine Risk

Sudan War

Published Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1:30 a.m. ET (7:30 a.m. Port Sudan, the Red Sea city that serves as Sudan’s wartime seat) · Source: joint ministerial statement of 23 October, United Nations

Thirty-two governments have sent Sudan’s warring parties a blunt message: let the food through, or watch a hunger crisis tip into famine. The warning, dated Friday, Oct. 23, comes from a group led by the United Kingdom that includes the United States, the European Union and Canada.

It lands in the middle of the Sudan war, now in its fourth year, between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The statement says about 19.5 million people, or 41% of the population, face high levels of acute food insecurity, a warning backed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-linked hunger monitor.

Why Governments Are Speaking Up Now

The statement opens with a stark line: Sudan “is experiencing an alarming deterioration in its food security.” It says the risk of famine in the coming months “needs urgent action.”

The signers name conflict as the main driver. Fighting has displaced millions, damaged infrastructure, disrupted health care and broken supply chains and markets.

El Niño, a climate pattern that disrupts rainfall, has added drought across more than half of the country. About 5 million people are already at emergency level, one step below the worst, catastrophe.

The statement says the number of children with severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous form, could exceed the projected 825,000 without action.

What the Signers Want From the Warring Sides

The governments ask both sides to authorise aid across front lines and borders. That includes flights into Darfur, the western region where much of the worst hunger sits.

They also ask the parties to keep aid workers present and protected. They want all sides to refrain from strikes on civilian infrastructure, including farms and food systems.

The donors also appeal for more money. The UN said that as of Oct. 8, less than half of Sudan’s humanitarian appeal for this year had been funded.

Where the Hunger Is Worst

The UN warns of rising famine risk in parts of Darfur and Kordofan, two regions in western and central Sudan where fighting has cut off supplies.

In Tawila, in North Darfur, more than 700,000 displaced people lack enough food, water and health care, according to the World Health Organization, the UN health agency.

For a reader’s guide to who holds what, see our explainer on Sudan’s hunger crisis and the Sudan war news hub.

What It Means for US Readers

Washington signed a statement that puts the United States on record about Sudan’s famine risk. Any new US aid or sanctions decisions will be read against it.

The crisis also matters beyond Africa. Sudan sits on the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, and hunger and displacement tend to push people across borders.

What Is Not Known

As of publication, no famine has been formally declared. The IPC has said there is not enough survey data for a full analysis, so the warning rests on trends and projections.

It is also unclear whether either side will open new routes. The statement is a public call to the parties, not a binding order.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has famine been declared in Sudan?

No. The warning describes a rising risk of famine, not a formal declaration.

Who signed the statement?

Thirty-two governments and bodies, including the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia. It is dated Oct. 23, 2026.

Sources: UK government joint ministerial statement on the risk of famine in Sudan (23 October 2026); UN News (Oct. 2026); IPC and WFP/FAO/UNICEF releases.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief