In the midst of a year-long conflict between rival military factions in Sudan, the nation faces an escalating humanitarian crisis. According to aid agencies, 25 million people, roughly half the population, are in desperate need of assistance. The conflict has compounded existing challenges, including acute food insecurity, with 17.7 million Sudanese facing immediate danger due to lack of food. Of those, 4.9 million are on the brink of famine, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.
Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, facing increased risks of gender-based violence and hunger. Agriculture, a vital source of income for most Sudanese, has been severely disrupted as farmers flee the fighting and lose access to essential supplies.
Displacement has also reached alarming levels, with over 8.6 million people, roughly 16% of the population, forced to flee their homes since the conflict began. Sudan now holds the unfortunate title of hosting the largest displacement crisis globally, with an additional 3 million people already homeless due to previous conflicts, particularly in Darfur.
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The economic fallout from the war is devastating, with the economy contracting by 12% in 2023, according to the World Bank. Infrastructure has been severely damaged, supply lines disrupted, and the formal banking system has collapsed, leaving many without salaries and exacerbating unemployment, which now affects nearly half the population.
Access to essential services like healthcare and education has also been severely impacted. Despite 11 million Sudanese needing urgent health assistance, 70% of health facilities in conflict-affected areas are either shut down or only partially functional. Outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, measles, malaria, and dengue fever are rampant, further straining an already overwhelmed healthcare system. Additionally, 19 million children are at risk of losing out on their education due to the war, with half of them having been in active war zones over the past year.
Despite the pressing need for aid, access remains a significant challenge. Both the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) restrict humanitarian access, and what little assistance manages to get through is at risk of looting in RSF-controlled areas. Volunteer-run “emergency rooms” have emerged to provide minimal food rations and basic services, but the scale of the crisis far exceeds their capacity.
Aid agencies are urgently seeking $2.7 billion from donors to provide relief to 14.7 million people in Sudan in dire need of assistance this year. However, to date, less than 6% of that amount has been raised, leaving millions at risk of starvation, disease, and displacement. Additionally, the UN refugee agency is seeking $1.4 billion to assist those who have fled to neighboring countries, highlighting the regional impact of Sudan’s crisis.
