WFP Warns 5 Million Face Emergency Hunger; EU Bans Sudanese Gold Imports

The World Food Programme warned on July 14, 2026 that approximately 5 million Sudanese face emergency or catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 4-5), with 100,000+ still in Phase 5 famine-like conditions and 19.5 million acutely food insecure overall. WFP said its caseload was cut from 5 million to 3.5 million beneficiaries due to a $646 million funding shortfall, and that aid delivery to El Obeid was capped at 100,000 of a 250,000-person target despite a brief lull in fighting that opened an aid window; renewed fighting closed the Tine border crossing in Darfur the same period. Separately, the EU announced a ban on Sudanese gold imports on July 14, citing conflict-financing concerns — gold being the RSF's principal war-financing mechanism, with an estimated 55+ tons smuggled 2023-2025, roughly 70% via the UAE.