Famine looms across West Kordofan as drought and conflict bite, activists say

September 12, 2026 (KHARTOUM) — An imminent famine threatens six localities across Sudan’s West Kordofan state amid severe drought, ruined harvests, and soaring prices, local aid volunteers said on Saturday.

Conditions have deteriorated sharply across the region under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with residents reporting widespread looting, destroyed livelihoods, and a worsening farm crisis fueled by scarce rainfall.

Accusations of widespread abuses by RSF fighters have forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes toward neighbouring North Kordofan.

The Dar Hamar Emergency Room, an informal volunteer network providing frontline relief, warned of an unfolding catastrophe across the state’s northern belt, naming Wad Banda, El Nuhud, Ghebeish, Abu Zabad, Al Odaiya, and Al Khiwai as affected localities.

“We are sounding the alarm and warning of a humanitarian disaster and certain famine engulfing all northern localities,” the group said in a statement.

Living conditions have reached life-threatening levels after drought scorched fields and caused total crop failure across the area, the group said, accusing RSF fighters of stripping residents of their remaining assets and savings.

The price of a single sack of sorghum, a staple food, has soared to roughly 10 million Sudanese pounds (around $1,300) due to severe supply shortages and transport blockades.

Tight movement curbs enforced by the RSF, including a ban on commercial trucks carrying food supplies from North Kordofan, have exacerbated the crisis.

Hunger and illness are escalating, hitting children and the elderly hardest, the emergency room said, adding that deaths have already been recorded amid a near-total absence of international humanitarian assistance.