Sudan Suspends Membership Amid Global Organizations Famine Warning
Moatinoon
As Sudan announced the suspension of its membership in a global organization focused on food security, a report released today predicts widespread famine in at least five regions of the country. An additional five regions are expected to face famine between December 2024 and May 2025.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), based in Italy, stated that 17 other regions are at risk of famine. Half of Sudans population, approximately 24.6 million people, are already facing acute food insecurity.
The organization warned that this situation reflects an unprecedented deepening and expansion of the food and nutrition crisis in Sudan. The crisis is a result of the devastating conflict that has ravaged the country for nearly two years, leading to massive displacement, economic collapse, the breakdown of basic social services, severe societal disruptions, and restricted humanitarian access.
The IPC report, titled "Sudan: Acute Food Insecurity Situation - Updated Projections and Findings by the Food Security Committee, October 2024 to May 2025," outlines the geography of the famine. The crisis reportedly began in August 2024 at the Zamzam camp in North Darfur State and later expanded to the Al Salam and Abu Shouk camps, as well as parts of the Western Nuba Mountains between October and November.
Famine is expected to spread further during the first five months of 2025 in regions of North Darfur, including Umm Keddada, Mellit, El Fasher, Tawilla, and Al Lait.
Additionally, famine risks loom over the central Nuba Mountains (including Dalami, West Kadugli, Umm Dorain, and Al Buram) and areas likely to witness significant internal displacement in North and South Darfur. These areas include Tawila, Nyala South, Nyala North, Beleil, Shattaya, Assunta, Al Buram, and Kass in South Darfur, as well as Greater Madani and East Gezira in Gezira State, Mayo and Al-Ingaz in Jebel Aulia in Khartoum State, and Al-Firdaws in East Darfur State.
Despite a slight improvement during this year’s agricultural and harvest season, the gains have not been widespread. In regions experiencing intense conflict, hostilities have severely disrupted agricultural activities, forcing farmers to abandon crops and exposing them to looting and destruction of stored produce.
On the eve of the reports release, Sudan’s government announced the suspension of its participation in the global hunger monitoring system. Observers have noted that this move could hinder efforts to address one of the worlds most significant hunger crises.
In a letter dated December 23, Sudan’s Minister of Agriculture stated that the country had suspended its involvement with the IPC, accusing the organization of issuing unreliable reports that undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and dignity.
The IPC, an independent body funded by Western nations and overseen by 19 major humanitarian organizations and intergovernmental agencies, plays a central role in the global hunger monitoring and mitigation system. It aims to sound alarms on emerging food crises, enabling organizations to respond proactively and prevent famine and mass starvation.
