US, EU, and 30 Allies Issue Joint Warning on Sudan Famine Risk

The United States, the European Union, and 30 other nations issued a joint warning on Monday regarding the severe deterioration of food security in Sudan. The group called for immediate measures to prevent the country from entering a state of famine.

In a statement released by the US State Department, the signatories demanded that the factions fighting in Sudan’s civil war remove all obstacles to humanitarian assistance. The document specifically named Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany among the participants, alongside the European Commissioner for equality, preparedness, and crisis management.

The coalition referenced the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, a United Nations-backed monitoring body. The IPC had previously projected that 5.1 million people in Sudan faced severe hunger as of June this year. The joint statement warned that without urgent intervention, the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could surpass the projected 825,000.

The conflict began in April 2023 when tensions between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces escalated into combat in Khartoum. Since that start date, the war has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 13 million people. Agricultural output has also declined as farmers faced difficulties harvesting crops during the fighting, while an El Nino linked drought has further reduced supplies and increased food prices.

The signatories assigned primary responsibility to the parties in conflict for alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese population. They urged these groups to permit humanitarian operations through all routes, including air access to the Darfur region. The statement also called for the protection of aid workers and for combatants to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure.

The international coalition further requested that the global community increase funding to meet the rising needs in Sudan. The statement emphasized the necessity of scaling up financial support to ensure assistance reaches the most vulnerable populations. The 32 signatories included 28 European countries in addition to the US, Australia, and Canada.

In a separate assessment last month, the State Department declared that neither the Sudanese army nor the Rapid Support Forces currently represent legitimate constitutional governance for the country. The joint warning serves as a formal diplomatic push to accelerate aid delivery and funding commitments before the projected famine threshold is reached.