Christians have been told to either renounce their faith or face starvation under a campaign of brutal Islamist repression.

The fate of Sudan's two million-strong Christian population is hanging in the balance amid a brutal civil war between military leaders General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo - which has ravaged the African country.

Around 150,000 Christians have died so far in the intense conflict between Burhan’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with 15 million more being forced to leave their homes, according to the Open Doors watchdog.

The Christian persecution monitoring group said: “Neither side is sympathetic to Christians, and the conflict has given Islamist extremists more opportunity to target them.

Around 150,000 Christians have died so far in the intense conflict

“Christians are also experiencing exceptional hardship in the hunger crisis because local communities discriminate against them and won’t give them support.

"Much of the church in Sudan, which might have been able to help with aid distribution, is on the run."

One church leader in the northeastern African nation confirmed the dire situation to Fox News, adding: “When even NGOs (non-governmental organisations) want to distribute food, the category of people who will receive this relief is controlled by Government.

"So, Government in these places doesn’t give it to minorities. Often Christians here have been told: ‘Unless you leave your Christianity, no food for you'."

The SAF have demolished multiple churches in the Khartoum area without explanation

The senior Sudanese religious figure pointed to the city of El Fasher as being the epicentre of Christian suffering.

He said: “For a long time now, they’re eating animal feed and grass. No wheat, no rice, nothing can get in.

"And, unfortunately now, no medicine – if you have just the flu it can kill you.

“We are just always asking God to have mercy on us."

The RSF forces are believed to be the more brutal of the two sides towards Christians - previously pledging to eradicate worshippers through either forced conversions to Islam or death.

Sudanese refugees have claimed these fighters intentionally target people fleeing from the devastation in El Fasher with frequent kidnappings and ransom.

RSF soldiers have been known to carry out torture, rape and murder on their captives if their ransom is not paid.

However, Christians living under the opposing SAF forces are also believed to be facing intense persecution.

Sudanese refugees have claimed these fighters intentionally target people fleeing from the devastation in El Fasher

According to a report published by International Christian Concern, the SAF have demolished multiple churches in the Khartoum area without explanation.

The review also highlighted that authorities have arrested Christians with poor explanations as to why, and have demanded money in "fines" for their release.

Exiled Sudanese church leader Rafat Samir said that Christians living in the war-ravaged nation suffer “multiple layers of persecution" on both ethnic and religious grounds.

Mr Samir said: “For a Christian, it’s always been a problem to live in Sudan. Islamic governments since independence have had no tolerance for other religions, tribes, or languages."