A recent survey found nearly half a million Sudanese children under five were are acutely malnourished, and over 17,000 severely malnourished, a 30% increase from last year.

The survey was conducted in 13 of Sudan's 18 states by Sudan's ministry of health and UNICEF, reported the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET).

"This increase is attributed to increased displacement due to conflict, reduced food access following below-average harvests in 2015 due to El Niño," and the expansion of survey programs, FEWSNET said.

More than four and a half million Sudanese citizens especially in war torn South Kordofan and Darfur's Jebel Marra are expected to face crisis or emergency food shortages until July thanks to early onset of the lean season, FEWSNET said.

FEWSNET said 23,000 people were displaced from their homes in Central and South Darfur while over 34,000 have been displaced in South Kordofan. Meanwhile, 69,000 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Sudan fleeing hunger and war as well.

Most of them are in East Darfur with the rest in West Kordofan, South Darfur, and White Nile, the group added.