Sudan: WFP Director Warns Sudan Aid Cuts Could Intensify World's Worst Hunger Crisis

What the report says

The UN World Food Programme has warned that it may need to reduce food assistance in Sudan within weeks because of severe funding shortfalls, even as war, mass displacement and drought continue to drive what the agency describes as the world’s largest hunger crisis. The comments came from WFP acting executive director Carl Skau after an eight-day visit to the country, according to Dabanga, which published the report on 14 September 2026 from Port Sudan.

The article says Sudan faces acute hunger on an extraordinary scale, with about 20 million people affected, roughly 14 million displaced by the war, and millions experiencing emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Skau said the WFP has the operational reach to help millions but cannot fully use that capacity without more money. He also described how fighting has shifted from Darfur toward Kordofan and Blue Nile, creating new displacement while many families remain unable to return home.

Dabanga reported that aid delivery has become slower and more dangerous, with convoys delayed by insecurity and long detours. The agency is still reaching millions each month, including people in hard-to-access areas, but in some places it can only provide reduced rations. The report highlighted El Fasher and Tawila in Darfur, where large numbers of displaced people are relying on food distributions, as well as rising pressure in El Obeid in Kordofan.

The WFP also warned that drought in Darfur could further weaken farming and livestock, worsening the crisis. In broader context, Sudan’s conflict has damaged markets, trade and access to basic services, leaving humanitarian agencies dependent on continued donor support to prevent further deterioration.