Sudan’s hunger crisis worsens as funding cuts leave millions starving

“We feel desperate and hopeless when displaced people come to the community kitchen we manage, and we return them with nothing to feed their children. For months, we have been facing a huge funding gap, and we are not able to cook fresh meals as usual,” says Muna, a volunteer working in one of the community kitchens in Al Deain, East Darfur.

Funding cuts hit hard

Despite the critical need to reach nearly 21 million people, Sudan’s 2025 humanitarian appeal of $4.16 billion is severely underfunded, with barely 35% secured as of December 2025. Several major donors have drastically reduced or suspended funding, forcing many life-saving programs to scale back or close entirely.

“Unexpected aid cuts have severely hampered our response in Darfur, causing delays during major disease outbreaks such as cholera,” says Mohammed Tijani, a CARE staff working in South Darfur.

“These cuts have also significantly impacted our multipurpose cash assistance programs, which help our program participants afford essentials like food and medicine,” he says.

Aid reductions have also affected basic health, water, and other essential services in Darfur, a region devastated by decades of conflict. Donor withdrawals have impacted payments to health workers, such as midwives, and disrupted the transportation of medical supplies.

Malnutrition: Children pay the highest price

Conflict-driven malnutrition is ravaging Sudan, leaving half the population facing extreme hunger.

The recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Partnership (IPC) report confirms that famine is persisting in El Fasher town and Kadugli. Additionally, there is a risk of famine in 20 localities across greater Darfur and greater Kordofan states.

This catastrophic hunger crisis disproportionately affects Sudan’s children. Severe acute malnutrition cases are rising sharply, especially in Darfur. UNICEF reports that approximately 3 million children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition every year.

“Since the conflict began, Almanar Voluntary Organization has been treating children with moderate and severe malnutrition across Sudan, including in Khartoum,” says Nadia Eltoum, Executive Director of Almanar, a CARE partner. “However, funding cuts have caused a critical shortage of Plumpy’nut,” she adds.

Plumpy’nut, a ready-to-use-food or RTUF, is a vital nutritional supplement that has long been used as an effective and cost-efficient intervention for child malnutrition. The shortage of Plumpy’nut has severely limited treatment options, resulting in rising malnutrition-related complications and increased child mortality.

“Sadly, funding cuts forced us to scale back operations. We have lost nearly 80% of our resources,” Eltoum says. “This leaves communities frustrated and underserved, and children with moderate malnutrition are worsening into severe cases due to lack of support.”

Maternal healthcare collapse leaves pregnant women at risk

By April 2025, the conflict in Sudan had displaced over 12 million people.  Around 400,000 new people have flooded into Kassala, East Sudan, straining already stretched health, water, education, and other basic services.

“Saudia Hospital is the main referral center for reproductive health in Kassala state, serving patients from all 11 localities. We provide maternity care and immunizations to displaced women, children, and host communities, seeing over 150 patients daily,” says Dr. Abaker Adam, Medical Director of Saudia Hospital.

International NGOs used to support pregnant women by covering costs of C-sections, normal deliveries, and providing basic delivery kits.

“Funding cuts have hit us hard, and INGO support is sharply decreasing, leaving women desperate and struggling to afford safe deliveries,” Adam says.

Beyond maternity hospitals, aid agencies previously supported remote health centers with safe delivery services, immunizations, and general medical care.

“Funding cuts are crippling us. We feel helpless as we can no longer provide lifesaving health, water, and hygiene kits to people sheltering in IDP sites or host communities in impoverished Kassala,” says Nagat Abdallah, Executive Director of Reira Organization, a CARE partner.

The steep decline in international funding has worsened Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. Major cuts have forced aid agencies and local organizations to reduce or suspend operations across many regions.

“Sadly, those fortunate enough to survive the conflict are now dying from lack of food, healthcare, and basic needs due to the massive humanitarian funding gap,” warns Nagat.

CARE Sudan responding to unprecedented needs

Despite severe operational and funding challenges, CARE Sudan remains agile and flexible, responding to rising humanitarian needs across eight states: East Darfur, South Darfur, Kassala, Gedaref, Gezira, South Kordofan, Red Sea, and Khartoum.

In 2024, CARE reached more than 1.8 million people in Sudan with a range of services including health, nutrition, protection, water and sanitation, shelter, food security, livelihoods, and cash and voucher assistance for crisis-affected people in crisis.

To address unprecedented needs, CARE Sudan currently implements programs in WASH, shelter, health and nutrition, women’s economic empowerment, cash assistance, food security, protection, and peacebuilding across eight states.

“Sudan’s conflict has torn families apart, leaving millions struggling with nothing. We see mothers skipping meals so their children can eat, families suffering as doctors and medicine run out,” says Abdirahman Ali, CARE Sudan country director.

“We are doing all we can to meet urgent needs, but the scale is immense. Without more funding, too many will be left behind. Immediate investment and direct support to local actors are essential to sustain life-saving food, health, and protection efforts.”