Sudan’s Nile Farms Lie Barren as El Niño Brings Drought

Sudanese farmland that could feed millions lies empty as a severe drought, driven by El Niño, dries up the banks of the Nile. Farmers, already exhausted by years of crisis, now face yet another season of ruin. The barren fields across the country stand as a stark sign of a hunger emergency that threatens to become the world’s largest. With the river’s water levels at critical lows, irrigation channels have run dry, leaving crops unsown and soil cracked. Local growers, who had hoped for recovery, now watch helplessly as their only source of livelihood evaporates. The drought has struck at the worst possible time, deepening an already fragile food supply. Without urgent rain or aid, the coming months could push millions closer to starvation. For now, the Nile’s once-fertile banks remain silent, waiting for waters that may not come.