Aid Agencies Warn Sudan’s Upcoming Harvest Faces Severe Threat Amid Conflict and Drought

Humanitarian organisations issued a joint warning on the critical October to January harvest window in Sudan, stating that conflict, displacement, and El Niño-driven drought threaten to significantly worsen the country's hunger crisis heading into 2027.

The alert was issued jointly by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, the Danish Refugee Council, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Prosper Global, and World Vision International Sudan, in collaboration with the Sudan Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) Cluster.

According to the Sudan FSL Cluster, nearly 29 million people in the country are currently experiencing acute food insecurity. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has confirmed famine multiple times in parts of Sudan over the past two years, with other regions remaining at risk.

Aid groups reported that farmers in Darfur, Kordofan, Blue Nile, and other conflict-affected states planted crops despite severe movement restrictions and active violence. However, essential civilian infrastructure—including farmlands, roads, markets, water systems, and power supplies—remains subject to attacks. In addition to security challenges, agricultural yields are pressured by poor and erratic rainfall, high inflation, and currency depreciation driving up the cost of food, fuel, and transport.

The organisations are urging parties to the conflict to protect civilians and vital infrastructure, ensure safe access to farmlands and markets, and allow the unhindered movement of food, commercial supplies, and humanitarian assistance. Regional and international actors were also called upon to make the protection of the harvest a diplomatic priority, while donors were urged to sustain emergency aid and invest in local food systems.

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