Due to a severe shortage of funds, the United Nations is cutting in half the minimum daily requirement of food rations in the Darfur region, affecting up to 3.5 million people. This comes as Darfur’s malnutrition rates are back on the rise.

Cuts include reducing cereals, blended fortified food and oil by 50% and pulses, sugar and salt by 75%.

The World Food Programme states that this drastic cut will cause food stocks to last longer during the “hunger season”—from July to September, when needs are greatest before the next harvest.

More than 6.1 million people across Sudan require food aid—more than any other country in the world.

Source: BBC News; World Food Programme