An 18-month RSF siege pushed El Fasher into confirmed famine
In October 2025 the IPC Famine Review Committee concurred that Famine (IPC Phase 5) was occurring in El Fasher, North Darfur, and Kadugli, South Kordofan. FEWS NET's analysis attributed El Fasher's situation to an 18-month siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marked by escalating aerial attacks and an earthen perimeter that cut off virtually all food supply, with no direct food or nutrition assistance reaching the city in over a year. The RSF took over the city on October 26, 2025. For Kadugli and Dilling, FEWS NET linked the cut-off in access to joint RSF and SPLM-N operations against SAF-held cities after the groups' February 2025 alignment.
An 18-month siege characterized by escalating aerial attacks and the construction of an extensive earthen perimeter that cut off virtually all food supply ... Humanitarian access has remained non-existent ... with no direct food or nutrition assistance having reached the city in over a year.
The siege of El Fasher, which started nearly 18 months ago, has cut off people from humanitarian aid; starvation is most severe primarily in locations where armed actors have obstructed both civilian movement and humanitarian access.
Conclusions and recommendations confirming Famine (IPC Phase 5) in the towns of El Fasher and Kadugli for the current and October 2025-January 2026 projection periods.
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An IPC update said El Fasher and Kadugli were no longer classified in famine, mainly because residents had fled to other areas, while isolated areas such as Um Baru, Kernoi and At Tina remained in catastrophic conditions. Source ↗
An IPC alert said famine thresholds for acute malnutrition had been surpassed in Um Baru and Kernoi in North Darfur, where people fleeing El Fasher had gone; the army lifted the RSF siege of Kadugli that week. Source ↗