December 24, Nairobi — The Sudanese government withdrew its participation in the global hunger-monitoring system on the eve of a report that’s expected to show famine spreading across the country.

In a letter on Dec. 23, the agriculture minister said that the government is halting its participation in the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system. The letter accused the IPC of “issuing unreliable reports that undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and dignity.”

The IPC is expected to publish a report on Tuesday, Dec. 24, detailing that famine has spread to five areas in Sudan and is expected to reach ten by May. The United Nations says that 25.6 million people in Sudan, half of the country’s population, is facing acute hunger.

In August, IPC concluded that famine conditions are prevalent in parts of North Darfur, including Zamzam camp for internally displaced people.

The IPC is an independent body funded by Western nations and overseen by 19 humanitarian organizations and intergovernmental institutions. The decision by Sudan government’s to suspend its participation has alarmed aid organizations.

Areas are classified in IPC Phase 5 (Famine) when at least one in five people or households have an extreme lack of food and face starvation, resulting in extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition and death.