Sudan Famine 2025
Background
A UN-backed global hunger monitor, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), has confirmed famine conditions in:
El Fasher (capital of North Darfur, recently captured by the RSF)
Kadugli (in southern Sudan)
This is the first official famine declaration in urban centers during the ongoing civil war between:
Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – a powerful paramilitary group
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) – the national army
The Conflict Context
Origin of the War
Began: April 2023, after a power struggle between RSF leader Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemedti”) and army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Both factions were part of the military junta that ousted Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and later toppled the civilian transitional government in 2021.
What is the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification)?
Phase | Classification | Meaning |
1 | Minimal | No or minimal food insecurity |
2 | Stressed | Marginally able to meet minimum needs |
3 | Crisis | Food consumption gaps / high malnutrition risk |
4 | Emergency | Severe food insecurity, increased mortality risk |
5 | Famine | Extreme lack of food, starvation, and widespread death |
IPC Declaration Criteria for Famine
A region is classified as “famine” when:
At least 20% of households face extreme food shortages.
At least 30% of children are acutely malnourished.
Death rate exceeds 2 persons per 10,000 per day.
Current Situation
Famine Confirmed:
El Fasher (North Darfur) – after 18-month siege by RSF
Kadugli (South Kordofan) – also besieged
At Risk of Famine:
Tawila, Mellit, and Tawisha
Humanitarian Conditions
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports:
All children arriving from El Fasher were malnourished.
Adults were emaciated.
The White Nile originates from Lake Victoria, while the Blue Nile originates from Lake Tana in Ethiopia.
Prelims Practice MCQ
Q. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), recently in the news, is:
A. A global index published by the FAO to monitor agricultural productivity.
B. A UN-backed system for classifying the severity of food insecurity and famine.
C. A regional classification for Sub-Saharan Africa developed by the World Bank.
D. A humanitarian alert mechanism of the Red Cross for natural disasters.
Answer: ✅ B
Explanation: The IPC is the internationally recognised UN-backed standard for measuring food insecurity and famine levels globally.
Q. The Darfur region, recently in news, lies in which part of Sudan?
A. Northern Sudan
B. Western Sudan
C. Eastern Sudan
D. Central Sudan
Answer: ✅ B
Explanation: Darfur is a western region of Sudan, historically conflict-prone and ethnically diverse.
