Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Contact media@actionagainsthunger.org for inquiries.

• New data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification confirms that famine in Sudan, already present in two regions, has spread to two new locations in North Darfur.
• Sudan now has the most areas of active famine on the planet. More than 375,000 people are at real risk of starvation.
• The hunger crisis is occurring in a context of mass displacement, health system collapse, cholera outbreaks, and lack of humanitarian access.
• There is a severe lack of funding: the humanitarian response plan for Sudan in 2026, which needs $2.9 billion, has so far received only 5.5% of the necessary funds.
• Action Against Hunger is present in the hunger hotspots of Darfur, White Nile, Blue Nile, Kordofan and Red Sea through programs focusing on health and nutrition, food security and livelihoods, water, sanitation and hygiene, and gender and protection.

 

MADRID, NEW YORK, February 5, 2026 /3BL/ – Famine—the most extreme form of food crisis and a condition that is only declared in exceptional situations—is spreading in Sudan. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) data released today confirm that two new areas in North Darfur, Um Baru and Kernoi, have now exceeded famine thresholds (Phase 5, the most severe IPC phase).

Until now, there were only three officially declared famines in the world: two in Sudan (El Fasher and Kadugli, confirmed in 2025) and one in Gaza. With this latest update, Sudan becomes the country with the most territories in active famine on the planet.

More than half of children in Um Baru suffer from acute malnutrition, while 34% do so in Kernoi. These figures raise fears that around 20 other areas are experiencing an equally critical situation. According to IPC data from last November, more than 375,000 people are in a catastrophic situation, and today it is predicted that more than 4 million people will suffer from acute malnutrition this year.

“Famine does not happen overnight. It is the result of months of siege, violence, and neglect. In Darfur, we are seeing entire communities left with nothing: no food, no aid, nothing,” explains Samy Guessabi, Country Director for Action Against Hunger in Sudan.

 

An Unprecedented Humanitarian Crisis

The spread of famine comes amid what is already the world’s largest displacement crisis: 9.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes within the country. In El Fasher alone, more than 1.2 million people have left the area since the end of 2025. Another 4 million Sudanese have been forced to flee to neighboring countries such as Chad and South Sudan to survive.

At the same time, there is hardly any drinking water, and health systems have virtually collapsed: 80% of health facilities are damaged or out of service. Outbreaks of cholera, measles, and diarrhea are multiplying, especially in camps for displaced people without access to safe water or sanitation.

“Families are eating once a day or nothing at all. Many survive on boiled leaves or animal feed. This is not a food crisis: it is a survival crisis,” adds Guessabi.

 

No Access, No Funds, No Time

Humanitarian access remains extremely limited in Sudan, especially in Darfur and Kordofan, due to conflict, blockades, insecurity and administrative obstacles. In some areas, humanitarian teams cannot even enter.

Added to this is a severe lack of funding: the humanitarian response plan for Sudan in 2026, which needs $2.9 billion, has so far received only 5.5% of the necessary funds. Without an urgent response, mortality will increase dramatically in the coming months, especially during the upcoming lean season and rains.

Action Against Hunger calls for an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access and urgent mobilization of funds to prevent famine from spreading further across Sudan. Meanwhile, our teams on the ground continue to provide vital assistance in Blue Nile, Darfur, Red Sea, Kordofan and White Nile through health and nutrition, food security and livelihoods, water, sanitation and hygiene, and gender and protection programs.

“Famine is not inevitable. It is a collective decision: either we act now, or we accept that thousands of people will die from something as basic as not having enough to eat,” concludes Guessabi.

 

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Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

International Olympic Committee news

Olympic hockey player Hugo Inglis from New Zealand, Olympic rugby sevens player Kevin Wekesa from Kenya, the National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands (NOC*NSF) and the International Biathlon Union (IBU) have been named the winners of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Climate Action Awards 2025, in recognition of their efforts to address climate change and make sport more sustainable.

Key facts

• The IOC Climate Action Awards 2025 recognise impactful initiatives that address climate change across the Olympic Movement in three categories: athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs).
• The 2025 winners are Olympic hockey player Hugo Inglis (New Zealand), Olympic rugby sevens player Kevin Wekesa (Kenya), the NOC of the Netherlands and the International Biathlon Union, with the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) and World Sailing receiving “Highly Commended” recognition.
• The awards provide tailored support to winners, including Innovation Labs for NOCs and IFs and a six-month sustainability mentoring programme for athlete awardees.

The announcement was made during the IOC Session held in Milan, ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.​

“As athletes, we learn early on to focus on what we can control and to keep pushing and adapt, even when conditions are not perfect,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry. “That spirit is exactly what drives the IOC Climate Action Awards. Our winners are showing that protecting our planet and pursuing excellence can go hand in hand. Their work shows the impact of the Olympic community when it leans in together with purpose. What an inspiration.”

“Congratulations to the 2025 winners and those ‘Highly Commended’,” said Mark Price, Principal and Global Lead Client Service Partner for the International Olympic Committee at Deloitte Consulting LLP. “Leveraging their athletic drive, the winners were compelling in their ability to deliver measurable benefits and scalable solutions. Deloitte is honoured to be a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner and delighted to support these awards, which help to enhance resilience for sports and communities globally.”

Meet the winners of the IOC Climate Action Awards 2025

Athlete category

Hugo Inglis (Hockey, New Zealand)

New Zealand hockey player Hugo Inglis is the co-founder of High Impact Athletes (HIA), a global movement that channels athlete visibility and resources towards evidence-based climate solutions.

Motivated by the contradiction between a career built on international travel and his environmental convictions, Hugo helped establish HIA as a platform for athletes who want to contribute beyond reducing their own footprint. Through HIA, athlete funding is channelled to evidence-based organisations, delivering high-impact solutions in sectors that drive a large share of sport’s emissions, including aviation, energy and infrastructure.

Today, HIA brings together more than 240 athletes from 50 disciplines and 35 countries. It has directed more than USD 2 million to charities that deliver impact in the areas of climate, global health and animal welfare.

Hugo’s personal choices – from eco-conscious travel decisions to a plant-based diet and car-free lifestyle – reinforce his advocacy. With new partnerships, HIA plans to scale significantly, offering up to 600,000 athletes the opportunity to fundraise for climate solutions.

Kevin Wekesa (Rugby Sevens, Kenya)

Kenyan rugby sevens player Kevin Wekesa founded Play Green to use sport as a platform for climate action, responding to the rising temperatures and desertification that are already disrupting livelihoods across Kenya.

The programme has so far replaced single-use plastic bottles with reusable aluminium bottles for Kenya’s national rugby teams, saving nearly 1,000 plastic bottles every week.

At the same time, Kevin has embedded sustainability into education and community engagement. Through partnerships with 40 schools, Play Green combines tree-planting with workshops on water conservation, waste management and climate justice. To date, the initiative has supported the planting of 2,300 trees and engaged thousands of children in climate education.

Kevin has extended this work to clubs and federations, launching match-day recycling initiatives and installing clearly marked recycling bins and collection points to divert waste from landfill.

His ambition is to scale Play Green nationwide by introducing plastic-free stadium zones, encouraging biodegradable packaging and establishing a Green Ambassador programme in schools. With the support of this award, Kevin aims to turn these plans into a replicable model for grassroots climate action through sport.

National Olympic Committee category

NOC of the Netherlands (NOC*NSF)

The NOC*NSF has developed an integrated approach to sustainable mobility that is reshaping how athletes and staff travel.

Recognising that domestic travel accounted for nearly 70 per cent of its emissions, the NOC*NSF launched a comprehensive strategy to address the issue at its source, by combining electric vehicles, e-bikes and a digital mobility platform into a single, integrated system.

As a result, 65 per cent of Team NL’s fleet has already transitioned to electric vehicles, contributing to a 40 per cent reduction in emissions, with full electrification planned by 2027. A dedicated mobility card and app, used by 850 athletes and 300 employees, integrates public transport, shared mobility and EV charging to promote low-emission travel throughout the year.

Beyond mobility, the NOC*NSF has tackled emissions from procurement and equipment. For the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a shift to more sustainable clothing options for participants’ kit cut related emissions from 206.7 tonnes of CO₂ at Tokyo 2020 to 60.9 tonnes in Paris – a reduction of more than 70 per cent. Taken together, these procurement changes and the wider sustainable mobility strategy are setting a benchmark for systemic, long-term impact in team operations.

International Federation category

International Biathlon Union (IBU)

The IBU has been recognised for a comprehensive climate strategy that spans competitions, operations and community engagement.

As the first Winter International Federation to include its World Cups and World Championships in a climate transition plan, the IBU achieved a 6 per cent reduction in direct and indirect emissions across all three scopes of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol in 2024, largely through increased use of renewable energy. Its Athlete Ambassador Programme empowers 26 athletes from 17 countries to champion climate action by leading social media campaigns, engaging with fans at events and speaking at international conferences.

The Biathlon Climate Challenge has mobilised 12,000 fans to take part in climate-positive activities, resulting in the planting of 150,000 trees in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Federation also supports its national members by helping them develop sustainability strategies, calculate carbon footprints and implement climate measures tailored to their context.

Guided by clear targets, namely a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2040, the IBU is aligning ambition with implementation to help ensure that biathlon can continue to thrive in a rapidly changing climate.

The following finalists have been recognised in the “Highly Commended” category:

NOC of Spain (COE)

The COE has received a “Highly Commended” recognition for its structured and measurable approach to decarbonisation and governance.

Since 2018, the COE has reduced its emissions by close to 28 per cent across all three scopes under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol – covering direct emissions, purchased energy and other indirect sources – through a plan that prioritises sustainable mobility, 100 per cent renewable electricity, solar panels, LED lighting and resource efficiency. To extend its impact beyond its own operations, the COE created the Sustainable Sports Seal, a certification system that embeds environmental, social and economic criteria into the management of sporting events and organisations.

The seal, which has been externally audited, has so far been awarded to 11 sporting events and seven sports organisations. Certified events, such as the Castellón Companies Race, have recorded significant year-on-year emissions reductions. With a target to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040, the COE is offering a scalable model for other NOCs seeking to integrate sustainability into their activities.

World Sailing

World Sailing has received a “Highly Commended” recognition for its data-driven work to reduce emissions from support vessels, one of sailing’s most carbon-intensive elements.

In partnership with a maritime technology company that provides efficiency tracking for support vessels, World Sailing deployed the emissions-tracking system at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to monitor 285 boats. The data revealed opportunities to cut fuel consumption and emissions by more than 20 per cent through practical measures, such as optimising fleet size, standardising engine power and providing eco-piloting training to influence driving behaviour on the water. Combined with an existing quota system that caps the number of coach boats, these measures form the basis of a long-term strategy to introduce efficiency standards across sailing events.

This data-led approach is helping World Sailing develop a blueprint for more sustainable event delivery and supporting the wider sailing community in lowering its carbon footprint.

 

About the IOC Climate Action Awards

Now in their third edition, the IOC Climate Action Awards recognise and celebrate athletes, National Olympic Committees and International Federations that are delivering measurable progress in the fight against climate change.

For more information about the IOC Climate Action Awards, click here.

Learn more about Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Deloitte, the supporter of the awards.  

To find out more about the IOC’s work on climate action, click here.

###

The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organisation made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.7 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

###

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000, email: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our web site at www.ioc.org.

Broadcast quality footage

The IOC Newsroom: https://newsroom.olympics.com/

Videos

YouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia

Photos

For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.

To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Content Licensing Unit at: images@olympic.org.

Social media

For up-to-the-minute information on the IOC and regular updates, please follow us on X and YouTube.

Image credits: © IOC/Quinton Meyer

International Olympic Committee news

Olympic hockey player Hugo Inglis from New Zealand, Olympic rugby sevens player Kevin Wekesa from Kenya, the National Olympic Committee of the Netherlands (NOC*NSF) and the International Biathlon Union (IBU) have been named the winners of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Climate Action Awards 2025, in recognition of their efforts to address climate change and make sport more sustainable.

Key facts

• The IOC Climate Action Awards 2025 recognise impactful initiatives that address climate change across the Olympic Movement in three categories: athletes, National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs).
• The 2025 winners are Olympic hockey player Hugo Inglis (New Zealand), Olympic rugby sevens player Kevin Wekesa (Kenya), the NOC of the Netherlands and the International Biathlon Union, with the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) and World Sailing receiving “Highly Commended” recognition.
• The awards provide tailored support to winners, including Innovation Labs for NOCs and IFs and a six-month sustainability mentoring programme for athlete awardees.

The announcement was made during the IOC Session held in Milan, ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.​

“As athletes, we learn early on to focus on what we can control and to keep pushing and adapt, even when conditions are not perfect,” said IOC President Kirsty Coventry. “That spirit is exactly what drives the IOC Climate Action Awards. Our winners are showing that protecting our planet and pursuing excellence can go hand in hand. Their work shows the impact of the Olympic community when it leans in together with purpose. What an inspiration.”

“Congratulations to the 2025 winners and those ‘Highly Commended’,” said Mark Price, Principal and Global Lead Client Service Partner for the International Olympic Committee at Deloitte Consulting LLP. “Leveraging their athletic drive, the winners were compelling in their ability to deliver measurable benefits and scalable solutions. Deloitte is honoured to be a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner and delighted to support these awards, which help to enhance resilience for sports and communities globally.”

Meet the winners of the IOC Climate Action Awards 2025

Athlete category

Hugo Inglis (Hockey, New Zealand)

New Zealand hockey player Hugo Inglis is the co-founder of High Impact Athletes (HIA), a global movement that channels athlete visibility and resources towards evidence-based climate solutions.

Motivated by the contradiction between a career built on international travel and his environmental convictions, Hugo helped establish HIA as a platform for athletes who want to contribute beyond reducing their own footprint. Through HIA, athlete funding is channelled to evidence-based organisations, delivering high-impact solutions in sectors that drive a large share of sport’s emissions, including aviation, energy and infrastructure.

Today, HIA brings together more than 240 athletes from 50 disciplines and 35 countries. It has directed more than USD 2 million to charities that deliver impact in the areas of climate, global health and animal welfare.

Hugo’s personal choices – from eco-conscious travel decisions to a plant-based diet and car-free lifestyle – reinforce his advocacy. With new partnerships, HIA plans to scale significantly, offering up to 600,000 athletes the opportunity to fundraise for climate solutions.

Kevin Wekesa (Rugby Sevens, Kenya)

Kenyan rugby sevens player Kevin Wekesa founded Play Green to use sport as a platform for climate action, responding to the rising temperatures and desertification that are already disrupting livelihoods across Kenya.

The programme has so far replaced single-use plastic bottles with reusable aluminium bottles for Kenya’s national rugby teams, saving nearly 1,000 plastic bottles every week.

At the same time, Kevin has embedded sustainability into education and community engagement. Through partnerships with 40 schools, Play Green combines tree-planting with workshops on water conservation, waste management and climate justice. To date, the initiative has supported the planting of 2,300 trees and engaged thousands of children in climate education.

Kevin has extended this work to clubs and federations, launching match-day recycling initiatives and installing clearly marked recycling bins and collection points to divert waste from landfill.

His ambition is to scale Play Green nationwide by introducing plastic-free stadium zones, encouraging biodegradable packaging and establishing a Green Ambassador programme in schools. With the support of this award, Kevin aims to turn these plans into a replicable model for grassroots climate action through sport.

National Olympic Committee category

NOC of the Netherlands (NOC*NSF)

The NOC*NSF has developed an integrated approach to sustainable mobility that is reshaping how athletes and staff travel.

Recognising that domestic travel accounted for nearly 70 per cent of its emissions, the NOC*NSF launched a comprehensive strategy to address the issue at its source, by combining electric vehicles, e-bikes and a digital mobility platform into a single, integrated system.

As a result, 65 per cent of Team NL’s fleet has already transitioned to electric vehicles, contributing to a 40 per cent reduction in emissions, with full electrification planned by 2027. A dedicated mobility card and app, used by 850 athletes and 300 employees, integrates public transport, shared mobility and EV charging to promote low-emission travel throughout the year.

Beyond mobility, the NOC*NSF has tackled emissions from procurement and equipment. For the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a shift to more sustainable clothing options for participants’ kit cut related emissions from 206.7 tonnes of CO₂ at Tokyo 2020 to 60.9 tonnes in Paris – a reduction of more than 70 per cent. Taken together, these procurement changes and the wider sustainable mobility strategy are setting a benchmark for systemic, long-term impact in team operations.

International Federation category

International Biathlon Union (IBU)

The IBU has been recognised for a comprehensive climate strategy that spans competitions, operations and community engagement.

As the first Winter International Federation to include its World Cups and World Championships in a climate transition plan, the IBU achieved a 6 per cent reduction in direct and indirect emissions across all three scopes of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol in 2024, largely through increased use of renewable energy. Its Athlete Ambassador Programme empowers 26 athletes from 17 countries to champion climate action by leading social media campaigns, engaging with fans at events and speaking at international conferences.

The Biathlon Climate Challenge has mobilised 12,000 fans to take part in climate-positive activities, resulting in the planting of 150,000 trees in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Federation also supports its national members by helping them develop sustainability strategies, calculate carbon footprints and implement climate measures tailored to their context.

Guided by clear targets, namely a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zero by 2040, the IBU is aligning ambition with implementation to help ensure that biathlon can continue to thrive in a rapidly changing climate.

The following finalists have been recognised in the “Highly Commended” category:

NOC of Spain (COE)

The COE has received a “Highly Commended” recognition for its structured and measurable approach to decarbonisation and governance.

Since 2018, the COE has reduced its emissions by close to 28 per cent across all three scopes under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol – covering direct emissions, purchased energy and other indirect sources – through a plan that prioritises sustainable mobility, 100 per cent renewable electricity, solar panels, LED lighting and resource efficiency. To extend its impact beyond its own operations, the COE created the Sustainable Sports Seal, a certification system that embeds environmental, social and economic criteria into the management of sporting events and organisations.

The seal, which has been externally audited, has so far been awarded to 11 sporting events and seven sports organisations. Certified events, such as the Castellón Companies Race, have recorded significant year-on-year emissions reductions. With a target to halve emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040, the COE is offering a scalable model for other NOCs seeking to integrate sustainability into their activities.

World Sailing

World Sailing has received a “Highly Commended” recognition for its data-driven work to reduce emissions from support vessels, one of sailing’s most carbon-intensive elements.

In partnership with a maritime technology company that provides efficiency tracking for support vessels, World Sailing deployed the emissions-tracking system at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to monitor 285 boats. The data revealed opportunities to cut fuel consumption and emissions by more than 20 per cent through practical measures, such as optimising fleet size, standardising engine power and providing eco-piloting training to influence driving behaviour on the water. Combined with an existing quota system that caps the number of coach boats, these measures form the basis of a long-term strategy to introduce efficiency standards across sailing events.

This data-led approach is helping World Sailing develop a blueprint for more sustainable event delivery and supporting the wider sailing community in lowering its carbon footprint.

 

About the IOC Climate Action Awards

Now in their third edition, the IOC Climate Action Awards recognise and celebrate athletes, National Olympic Committees and International Federations that are delivering measurable progress in the fight against climate change.

For more information about the IOC Climate Action Awards, click here.

Learn more about Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner Deloitte, the supporter of the awards.  

To find out more about the IOC’s work on climate action, click here.

###

The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organisation made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.7 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world.

###

For more information, please contact the IOC Media Relations Team:
Tel: +41 21 621 6000, email: pressoffice@olympic.org, or visit our web site at www.ioc.org.

Broadcast quality footage

The IOC Newsroom: https://newsroom.olympics.com/

Videos

YouTube: www.youtube.com/iocmedia

Photos

For an extensive selection of photos available shortly after each event, please follow us on Flickr.

To request archive photos and footage, please contact our Content Licensing Unit at: images@olympic.org.

Social media

For up-to-the-minute information on the IOC and regular updates, please follow us on X and YouTube.

Image credits: © IOC/Quinton Meyer

In London, The Mills Fabrica convened industry peers including Cascale for the “Performance Without Toxicity” launch event, celebrating fiber innovation and innovators.

Hosted at MYO King’s Cross, the two-day event saw over 100 attendees from across the value chain. The programming also featured a networking drinks reception at the gallery and concept store “Fabrica X” where innovations are on display.

On day one, The Mills Fabrica’s head of Europe Amy Tsang gave opening remarks. Sessions followed on purpose-driven leadership, athleisure, footwear design, performance materials, and greener financing. Allbirds, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, HSBC, and more, were among the represented speakers.

Cascale also played a part in the event. On day two, Ellie Hackwood – senior manager of brand and retail membership – moderated a session titled “Building the Systems Behind Next-Generation Performance” covering reflections on innovation in responsible textile manufacturing and scalable change. Speakers included Mark Edridge, product manager at Bluesign Technologies, and Bethan Taylor, global sustainability manager at Checkpoint ALS, both Cascale members, as well as Joyce Tsoi, senior director of the decarbonization program at Cascale.

Hackwood gave a brief introduction on the opportunity at hand to confront fossil fuel-based inputs and further supply chain decarbonization advancements at a systems level. The strongest theme from the discussion was that holistic supply chain collaboration is a pre-requisite to systems change. Panelists stressed the critical importance of collaboration across complex supply chains, in particular citing the need for strengthened buyer supplier partnerships. Scalable innovation cannot be achieved in silos.