Norway and 31 other partners have warned of the alarming deterioration in food security in Sudan and the risk of famine in the coming months, calling for urgent international action to save lives.
The joint ministerial statement indicated that approximately 19.5 million people, representing around 41% of Sudan’s population, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity. Of these, 5 million are facing emergency levels of food insecurity, while more than 825,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition. The statement also warned that the number of areas affected by food insecurity, initially estimated at 14, could double.
The statement emphasized that the war is the main driver of the hunger crisis, causing widespread displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of agricultural production, services, and markets. The situation is further aggravated by obstruction of humanitarian assistance and worsening drought associated with El Niño, which has resulted in reduced rainfall.
The statement held the parties to the conflict primarily responsible for alleviating the suffering of civilians and called on them to remove all obstacles to humanitarian assistance and ensure safe access across conflict lines and international borders, including air access to Darfur. It also called for the protection of humanitarian personnel, simplified visa and travel permit procedures, an end to attacks on civilian and agricultural infrastructure, and stronger coordination to ensure the safety of humanitarian operations.
The signatories urged the international community to urgently increase humanitarian funding, direct development programs toward the areas of greatest need, and support the winter cropping season and locally led responses to avert famine.
The statement concluded by reaffirming solidarity with the Sudanese people and humanitarian organizations working under extremely challenging conditions to deliver life-saving assistance.
The statement was signed by the following officials and partners:
Minister for International Development of Australia; Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation of Belgium; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria; Secretary of State for International Development of Canada; Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic; Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark; European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia; Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland; Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France; Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany; Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia; Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of Luxembourg; Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Malta; Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands; Minister of International Development of Norway; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania; Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia; Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia; Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain; Minister for International Development Cooperation of Sweden; Head of Swiss Humanitarian Aid and Deputy Director General of Swiss Development Cooperation; Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs of the United States of America; and Minister of State for International Development of the United Kingdom, in addition to Cyprus and Hungary.
Published on the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on October 24, 2026.
Original source: Joint ministerial statement on the risk of famine in Sudan:
https://www.regjeringen.no/en/whats-new/joint-ministerial-statement-on-the-risk-of-famine-in-sudan/id3182356