A global hunger monitoring group warned on Thursday that famine is looming over more regions in Sudan’s war-ravaged western Darfur area. This comes as paramilitary forces carried out a deadly assault on a military hospital in the country’s south, resulting in the deaths of 22 individuals, including the hospital’s director and three medical staff members.
The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023 due to a power struggle between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has led to what the United Nations has labeled as the most severe humanitarian crisis globally. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a recent report highlighted that acute malnutrition has escalated to famine levels in two additional towns in Darfur, although a confirmed declaration of famine in these towns has not been made.
In South Kordofan province, an attack in the town of Kouik resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals, with eight others sustaining injuries, as reported by the Sudan Doctors’ Network. The ongoing assaults in South Kordofan have rendered several hospitals non-operational, creating a dire situation for the affected population.
The UN estimates that more than 40,000 individuals have lost their lives in the Sudanese conflict, with over 14 million people displaced from their homes. Recent reports from the IPC indicate that Umm Baru and Kernoi in North Darfur province are facing famine-level malnutrition, with alarming rates of acute malnutrition among children.
The fall of El Fasher in October 2025 triggered a mass exodus of people to nearby towns, exacerbating food insecurity in the region. The IPC emphasized the urgent need for a sustained ceasefire to prevent further suffering and loss of life in Sudan.
As the fighting continues in various parts of Sudan, efforts are being made to provide humanitarian aid to the affected populations. The United States, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries have contributed funds to support relief operations in Sudan, aiming to alleviate the humanitarian crisis gripping the nation.