Sudan: Climate change and drone attacks worsen the humanitarian crisis

Sudan: Climate Change and Drone Attacks Worsen Humanitarian Crisis October 18, 2026 The fighting between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the paramilitary militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has intensified in North Kordofan and parts of the state of Blue Nile. Thousands of people have had to flee, at a time when farmers are tending to their fields. Since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, the army and the RSF have been fighting their respective allied militias for power in the country. However, neither of the two conflict parties has yet gained control over the entire Sudan. The regular Sudanese army controls the north and center of the country, including the capital Khartoum. The RSF are primarily present in the western region of Darfur and parts of the south. The war has triggered one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world in Sudan. This is indicated by the United Nations and international aid organizations. Estimates indicate that between 40,000 and 250,000 people have been killed. It is difficult to determine the actual number of deaths given the ongoing fighting. More than 12.4 million people have been displaced from their homes. They are seeking refuge within Sudan or in neighboring countries. Supply Situation is Dramatic This week, the aid organization Action Against Hunger warned again about the dramatic supply situation. "24.6 million people are affected by severe acute food insecurity," said Jan Sebastian Friedrich-Rust, director of the German section of the aid organization, to DW. According to Friedrich-Rust, an estimated 825,000 children under five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition in 2026. In total, an estimated 4.2 million children as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished. The international early warning system for food crises FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) also warned in October about a further deterioration of the situation. The network monitors food security and assesses it based on the internationally recognized IPC scale. According to this, the highest level of acute food insecurity threatens in several areas, including in IDP camps in the Darfur and Kordofan regions. The so-called IPC Level 5 signifies a catastrophic food situation. "The situation in Sudan is further worsening, and the need for humanitarian aid is growing while even fewer resources are available," said Fabrizia Falcione, Sudan representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UN organization works, among other things, for sexual and reproductive health. "I recently visited the displacement camp Tawila and still find very few words for what I saw there," Falcione told DW. "Imagine more people than in Frankfurt am Main being forced to leave their homes and seek shelter in one place within less than three years." Falcione explained that more than 700,000 people there are dependent on a single hospital where cesarean sections can be performed. Although aid organizations repeatedly warn about the worsening situation, there is still a lack of money. The humanitarian aid plan for 2026 calls for 2.9 billion US dollars (2.59 billion Euros). However, international donors have provided only 1.2 billion dollars (1.07 billion Euros) so far. This means the aid plan is only 41 percent funded. Extreme Weather Conditions Worsen the Crisis in Sudan In addition to the war, extreme weather conditions are also affecting people in Sudan. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA recently warned that massive heat and heavy floods are further exacerbating the already dramatic humanitarian situation. "This year, a massive heatwave in some regions has led to power outages of up to twelve hours a day," said Sudanese expert Hager Ali from the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) to DW. "Riverbeds and dry fields are bare. In addition, there are the damages from the fighting, the RSF's scorched earth tactics, and environmental destruction." While about half of the country is suffering from drought, heavy rainfall and local floods have further worsened the situation in other regions. "As if that weren't enough, there is also a massive shortage of fertilizers and diesel," said Ali to DW. Sudan is dependent on importing fertilizers and diesel from the Gulf region. Supplies come by sea through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab strait. However, the war with Iran is increasingly affecting these important trade routes. It severely restricts maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the Houthi rebels allied with Tehran have threatened ships in the Bab al-Mandab strait and have temporarily disrupted shipping there. "The supply of fertilizers has collapsed in 2026 from 450,000 tons to only about 50,000 tons," said Ali. Diesel is also scarce and has become significantly more expensive. This worsens the crisis in two ways. "Agricultural machinery needs diesel, and the transport of aid and agricultural products within the country becomes significantly more expensive," Ali explained. The extent to which prices have risen shows a warning from the International Institute for Food Policy Research (IFPRI) from October. According to this, basic foodstuffs and fuel have become significantly more expensive in Sudan in September 2026. Little Hope for an End to the War Observers have long pointed out that the war in Sudan will hardly end as long as foreign states continue to supply the conflict parties with weapons. The Sudanese army is officially supported by Egypt, Turkey, Russia, and Iran. The United Arab Emirates are considered the most likely supporters of the RSF. Abu Dhabi denies these allegations. Nevertheless, the UN Security Council only extended the existing weapons embargo for the Darfur region until December 11th in October. Demands to extend the embargo to the entire Sudan were ignored. "An extension of the UN embargo to the entire Sudan would particularly include drones," said Hager Ali. She pointed out that Sudan is one of the countries where drones are used most intensively in the war. In 2026, drone attacks are the most frequent cause of civilian casualties in the country. Ali also explained in an interview with DW that the Sudanese permanent representative at the United Nations, Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, has spoken against an extension of the embargo. He fears that this would disadvantage the Sudanese army on the battlefield in particular. "A weapons embargo would prevent potential supporters from cooperating with the Sudanese forces. The Rapid Support Forces, on the other hand, do not necessarily obtain their weapons through official channels," Ali said. "The RSF depend on smuggling with other militias, private military contractors, and traders in the region," he explained. Since the militia obtains its weapons and other equipment from numerous different sources, it is difficult to specifically stop its supply with a single embargo. The article was published in English originally.