• UN's WFP warns of severe famine risk near Khartoum, especially in Jabal Awliya.
• Over 25 million people face dire food insecurity in Sudan due to ongoing conflict.
• WFP faces $500 million funding shortfall, reducing aid rations to 70% of standard levels.
• International action is urgently needed to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis.
• Thousands have died in the conflict, creating the world's largest displacement crisis.

Several areas south of Sudan's capital Khartoum are at profound risk of famine, with the World Food Programme (WFP) citing "severe" levels of hunger and desperation, particularly in the town of Jabal Awliya, located approximately 40 kilometers south of the city. Laurent Bukera, WFP Country Director for Sudan, noted that the dire situation is exacerbated by a significant funding shortfall, which is hindering essential food aid efforts. The need for resources on the ground far exceeds what is currently available, especially as the current conflict continues to disrupt humanitarian access, according to Reuters, India Times, TRT Global, and Al Jazeera.

The WFP has reached one million people across various localities in Khartoum since gaining access to the city after prolonged conflict blocked aid efforts. Nonetheless, the agency indicated it is currently assisting four million people nationwide, despite facing a staggering $500 million shortfall for emergency food and cash assistance. Bukera emphasized that "supplements for young children and pregnant and nursing mothers are out of reach because of a lack of resources," adding that urgent support is crucial to deliver necessary food packages, as noted by Reuters, India Times, TRT Global, and Al Jazeera.

With the devastating war starting in April 2023, a power struggle between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in widespread destruction and immense humanitarian needs. Bukera warned that as people begin to return to devastated areas, the pressures on already limited resources will escalate, further aggravating food insecurity across the nation. The WFP has had to reduce food rations in areas identified at risk of famine to just 70% of the standard allocation, underscoring the urgent need for increased funding and support from the international community, as per Reuters, India Times, TRT Global, and Al Jazeera.