Security Council takes up Sudan as 20 million people face acute hunger and famine risk spreads

18 October 2026

The United Nations Security Council met on Sudan as drone strikes killed civilians from El Obeid to Blue Nile and famine risk spread across Darfur and Kordofan. The United Nations describes Sudan as the world's largest hunger and displacement crisis. Twenty million people face acute hunger and 200,000 are at catastrophe levels. More than 700,000 displaced people in Tawila are short of food, water and healthcare. A drone strike near the Ethiopian border killed 41 displaced people on 10 October. The arms embargo on Sudan remains confined to Darfur, while sanctions have been extended to 11 December. Ambassadors were expected to press again for a ceasefire, safe aid access and an end to the weapons flows feeding the conflict.