Sudan’s Women Face Starvation at Twice the Rate of Men

In Sudan, women-led households are three times more likely to deal with serious food insecurity compared to male-led households.

The food crisis in Sudan is worsening daily, but it is affecting women and girls at twice the rate of men in the same areas. New findings from UN Women reveal that female-headed households (FHHs) are three times more likely to be food insecure than those led by men.

Women and girls account for half of Sudan’s starving population—15.3 million out of 30.4 million people currently in need. Amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the Sudanese civil war, women are increasingly leading households in the absence of men due to death, disappearance, or displacement. Simply living in an FHH is now a statistical predictor of hunger.

“With conditions now at near-famine thresholds in several regions, it is not just a food crisis, but a gender emergency caused by a failure of gender-responsive action,” said Salvator Nkurunziza, the UN Women representative for Sudan.

Famine Risks for Sudan’s Women
Only 1.9 percent of FHHs are food secure, compared to 5.9 percent of male-headed households (MHHs). Forty-five percent of FHHs report poor food consumption—nearly double the rate of MHHs at 25.7 percent. Just one-third of FHHs have an acceptable diet, compared to half of MHHs. Nationally, 73.7 percent of women are not meeting minimum dietary diversity, limiting nutrient intake and endangering maternal and child health.

Rates of poor food consumption among FHHs have doubled in one year. Prolonged conflict could push these figures higher, leading to mass starvation. Nearly 15 percent of FHHs are living in famine or near-famine conditions, compared to 7 percent of MHHs.

With current funding, the World Food Programme (WFP) can support only about 4 million people per month, leaving 26 million without assistance. An OCHA representative said WFP has been forced to reduce food packages, cut beneficiaries, or halt aid entirely in some cases.

Within Sudan’s civil society, women-led organizations (WLOs) play a central role in delivering meals to affected groups. Nkurunziza called them “the backbone of response in many areas,” often reaching communities inaccessible to international agencies. In West Kordofan, WLOs are solarizing clinics, running nutrition outreach, managing mobile maternal healthcare, and operating shelters. In North Kordofan, they run protection hotlines, distribute food, and assist displaced families.

UN Women supports 45 WLOs with funding and technical assistance, enabling them to operate in 16 states. However, chronic underfunding remains a major issue. One WLO working in eight states had to shut down 35 of its 60 food kitchens. WLOs also face severe logistical and digital challenges, making coordination nearly impossible.

Aid Delivery Challenges
Funding shortages are compounded by Sudan’s size, poor infrastructure, and weather. WFP notes Sudan is “roughly the size of Western Europe,” forcing aid workers to transport supplies over 2,500 kilometers across deserts and rough terrain. Roads in Darfur and Kordofan are in poor condition, and the rainy season from April to October renders many routes impassable.

Conflict has also disrupted trade routes. In besieged cities such as El Fasher and Kadugli, supplies remain scarce. WFP has called for safe passage to deliver aid, warning of “catastrophic” conditions.

Gender Disparities and Solutions
Even before the war, women and girls faced barriers to their rights due to cultural norms. The conflict has widened these gaps.

Food access illustrates this disparity—food queues are often dominated by men, while women from FHHs are underrepresented. Women are also largely excluded from decision-making spaces, meaning their needs are often overlooked.

The search for food has fueled harmful coping mechanisms such as child marriage, sexual exploitation, female genital mutilation, and child labor. Since April 2023, 1,138 rapes have been recorded, including 193 involving children. Experts believe the actual number is higher due to fear of reporting.

UN Women recommends prioritizing food distribution for FHHs, creating local distribution sites to reduce travel risks, and increasing women’s representation in aid committees to at least 40 percent. They also call for greater investment in WLOs, which currently receive less than 2 percent of humanitarian funding.

Despite these challenges, Nkurunziza said WLOs continue to feed families: “They are not waiting for permission — they are responding. The question is whether the system will finally recognize them as equal partners or continue to leave them behind.”