Geneva: The World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a stark warning that food assistance for Sudanese refugees in four neighboring countries could be completely halted within two months unless urgent funding is secured.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, WFP emergency coordinator Shaun Hughes said the agency needs $200 million over the next six months to sustain its operations. Without this financial support, critical food aid programs in the Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Libya are at immediate risk of shutting down due to severe funding shortfalls.
"Refugees in these countries are already living in precarious conditions, and unless fresh funds are received, we’ll be forced to suspend all support in the coming months," Hughes cautioned.
More than four million people have fled Sudan’s protracted civil conflict, which has now entered its third year. Many are seeking refuge in neighboring countries ill-equipped to handle the influx, with shelters often overcrowded and basic services overstretched.
According to a recent joint United Nations report, parts of Sudan are now facing an imminent threat of famine. Many of those fleeing the violence are already suffering from hunger and arrive at refugee sites in desperate condition.
Hughes stressed that children are particularly vulnerable, warning that further reductions in food aid could lead to a significant increase in malnutrition rates among young refugees.
When asked about the drop in funding, Hughes attributed it to broad cuts by international donors and growing global humanitarian demands. Despite its reduced foreign aid budget under President Donald Trump, the United States remains the largest donor to WFP’s Sudan response.
The agency is urging the international community to act swiftly to prevent a deepening humanitarian crisis.
