Sudan objects to UN food security reports without its input

November 10, 2026 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan has reiterated its objection to the United Nations over food security analyses conducted without government participation, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday, as aid agencies warn of severe malnutrition across the war-torn country.

Earlier this month, the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF and the Nutrition Cluster said 49% of nutrition surveys conducted in Sudan in 2026 exceeded the World Health Organization’s 15% emergency threshold.

The U.N. estimates that 8.4 million people in Sudan will require nutritional assistance this year, with nearly 4.2 million expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, including more than 820,000 children.

Sudan’s military-led government has consistently rejected assessments declaring widespread famine or severe food crises in the country.

Luke Lindberg, executive director of the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP), met senior Sudanese officials in Port Sudan and Khartoum on Tuesday, including the prime minister and the ministers of agriculture and foreign affairs.

Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Ismat Qurashi told Lindberg that the government rejects publishing any food security assessments without its direct involvement.

Sudan withdrew in late December 2024 from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global initiative that monitors and assesses hunger levels.

Qurashi said any food security monitoring must respect Sudanese sovereignty and involve state agencies in data collection and verification, while adding that Khartoum remains open to establishing new mechanisms to ensure accuracy.

The minister said Sudan’s farming sector was recovering, with more than 10 million hectares under cultivation this season despite disruptions caused by the war and climate shocks.

He accused rival paramilitary forces of orchestrating starvation tactics in areas under their control, where farming and aid deliveries face severe disruptions.

Lindberg said the WFP remains committed to delivering aid and expanding cooperation with authorities to reach civilians in need.

The agency has provided food assistance to roughly 600,000 people across Sudan, Lindberg said, warning that armed conflict remains the primary driver of acute hunger affecting 266 million people globally.