Sudan farms remain barren as El Nino dries Nile

THE NEWS: Since the conflict between Sudan’s army and rival paramilitaries began in April 2023, it has killed more than 200,000 people and pushed nearly 20 million Sudanese into crisis‑level hunger.

DETAILS:

• Farmers are forced to pull water from bone‑dry Nile riverbanks, struggling to irrigate their crops.
• Many farmers gather to pray for rainfall as the cracked earth offers little relief.
• Vast tracts of farmland that could, in theory, feed the world’s largest hunger crisis remain fallow.
• The war’s devastation has turned agricultural potential into a humanitarian emergency.

WHY IT MATTERS: The conflict not only causes massive loss of life but also threatens Sudan’s agricultural output, which could otherwise help alleviate global food insecurity; the loss of this food‑producing capacity deepens both regional and worldwide hunger risks.

FAQ

How many people have been killed in Sudan’s conflict since April 2023?
More than 200,000 people have died as a result of the fighting between the army and rival paramilitary groups that started in April 2023, according to the article.

How many Sudanese are facing crisis‑level hunger because of the war?
Nearly 20 million Sudanese have been pushed into crisis‑level hunger due to the conflict, highlighting a massive humanitarian emergency.

What agricultural challenges are Sudanese farmers experiencing amid the war?
Farmers are battling bone‑dry Nile riverbanks, struggling to pull water for crops, while cracked earth forces many to pray for rain; as a result, large areas of potentially productive farmland lie fallow.

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