Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have escalated across North Kordofan and parts of Blue Nile state. The surge in violence has forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes amid the planting season.
Territorial control remains split across regions. The SAF controls Sudan's northern and central areas, including the capital city of Khartoum, while the RSF retains its presence in the western Darfur region and parts of the south. The conflict has resulted in widespread civilian displacement, with over 12.4 million people forced to flee within Sudan and into neighboring countries.
Obtaining exact casualty data remains difficult due to the ongoing fighting, with estimated death tolls ranging between 40,000 and 250,000 people. Alongside the armed conflict, the population faces severe nutritional hardship. Jan Sebastian Friedrich-Rust of an aid NGO reported to DW that 24.6 million people are currently experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity.
Agricultural supplies have suffered heavy reductions. In 2026, the national fertilizer supply collapsed from 450,000 metric tons to approximately 50,000 metric tons. Widespread shortages and the soaring cost of diesel fuel have further compounded the difficult situation across the country.
Monitoring agencies have issued warnings regarding worsening conditions. In October, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) warned that several areas, including camps for internally displaced people in Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, are expected to face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), the most severe classification of acute food insecurity. Meanwhile, Fabrizia Falcione, the Sudan representative for the United Nations Population Fund, stated that humanitarian needs continue to grow while available resources to respond are shrinking. How can international relief networks effectively address critical supply shortages under persistent regional instability?