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

FAO emergencies director Rein Paulsen calls for greater investment in emergency agriculture during a visit to Sudan

Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience, observes cattle at Kuku Dairy Complex during the inauguration of the 2026 livestock vaccination campaign.

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