Sudan: FAO launches nationwide livestock vaccination campaign to protect food security and livelihoods amid conflict

Khartoum/Rome- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a nationwide livestock vaccination campaign in Sudan to protect 9.8 million animals and safeguard the livelihoods of 1.2 million livestock-owning households amid ongoing conflict, displacement and a deepening food crisis.

Building on the successful 2025 campaign, the 2026-2027 campaign will target 1.2 million livestock-owning households and 9.8 million animals nationwide. It forms part of FAO's wider emergency response to protect agricultural production, strengthen food security and support the recovery of rural communities across Sudan.

The launch took place in Sharg An Neel (East Nile) during a visit to Sudan by FAO's Director of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience, Rein Paulsen, who travelled this week across Khartoum, White Nile and Sinnar States. During his mission, Paulsen met government counterparts, farmers, pastoralists, fishers, technical experts, women and young people to hear directly about the challenges communities face and the importance of protecting livelihoods.

"One thing is clear - Sudan's farmers, herders and fishers are resilient. I have met people determined to rebuild their lives despite the challenges they continue to face. For many, livestock are their most valuable asset. For families in need of humanitarian assistance, livestock are also a vital source of nutritious milk," Paulsen said.

Protecting livestock, safeguarding livelihoods

Sudan's livestock sector, estimated at 115.4 million animals in 2025, is a critical source of nutrition and income for millions of agro-pastoral families. For internally displaced communities, in particular, milk from livestock plays a vital role in preventing malnutrition among children and supporting their recovery. The conflict that began in April 2023 has severely disrupted animal health services, damaged veterinary infrastructure and weakened disease surveillance and vaccination systems, underscoring the importance of a vaccination campaign covering all 18 states.

FAO estimates that livestock-related losses amount to nearly $3 billion.

The destruction of the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory in Soba - Sudan's national veterinary reference laboratory and the country's sole producer of veterinary vaccines for more than five decades - has further eroded national capacity to diagnose and respond to animal diseases. Before the conflict, the laboratory produced up to 35 million vaccine doses each year.

To help bridge this gap, FAO supported the importation of approximately 23 million vaccine doses in 2025, along with cold-chain management, transportation, and distribution to livestock-producing areas, including hard-to-reach locations in Darfur and Kordofan. For the first time, FAO delivered vaccines through a cross-border supply corridor from Chad into Darfur. Between October 2025 and July 2026, FAO vaccinated 8.4 million animals, benefiting an estimated 537,000 households, or 2.7 million people.

The new campaign will target common livestock diseases and will be complemented by the distribution of vouchers for concentrated feed and mineral salt licks to eligible livestock owners. Together, these measures aim to improve animal nutrition, maintain productivity and help conflict-affected households protect their productive assets.

"Preventing the outbreak and spread of animal diseases is one of the most cost-effective investments we can make. Protecting an animal today costs far less than replacing one tomorrow," Paulsen said. "In the context of the humanitarian response, healthy animals mean food on the table, milk for a child, and a vital source of income for vulnerable households."

Agriculture at the centre of Sudan's humanitarian response

While protecting livestock is a major priority, FAO's multifaceted response in Sudan also extends to crops and fisheries, reflecting the diverse needs and opportunities across the country.

Conflict, displacement, disrupted markets, and rising production and transport costs continue to undermine household food security. National cereal production has remained 22-25 percent below average over the past three years.

Climate-related risks could further compound these challenges. Forecasts indicate a rainfall deficit of 30-40 percent associated with what is predicted to be the most significant El Niño event on record. In this context, access to drought-tolerant seeds and other agricultural inputs could be critical to helping farmers sustain production and avoid further deterioration in food security.

FAO has supported vulnerable farming households by distributing crop seeds and other agricultural assistance. During the 2024-2025 season, the Organization reached more than 832,000 households across 15 states with over 8,000 tonnes of crop seeds, contributing to total grain production of 6.6 million tonnes.

Critically, however, needs continue to outpace available resources. FAO's current emergency and resilience portfolio in Sudan stands at $44.1 million against an appeal of $193 million under its 2026-2028 Emergency Response Plan. Only 11 percent of emergency agriculture requirements under Sudan's 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan have been funded.

FAO is calling for increased funding for emergency agriculture to help farmers and pastoralists protect their crops and livestock, sustain food production and strengthen resilience amid conflict and climate-related shocks. Support is needed to provide essential assistance, including animal health services, feed and seeds, cash and vouchers, irrigation rehabilitation and anticipatory action ahead of potential climate impacts.