Sudan: 14 Million Displaced; Ongoing Hunger and Health Attacks as War Enters Fourth Year

Marie-Helene Verney, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) representative in Sudan, reported that since the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces began on April 15, 2023, around 14 million people have fled. This includes 9 million internally displaced within Sudan and 4.4 million who have crossed borders into Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. Verney noted no significant progress towards conflict resolution and highlighted ongoing fighting, particularly in the Kordofans, Darfur, and Blue Nile State, with increased aerial bombardments and drone attacks.

Airstrikes are hitting civilian targets without warnings, and human rights abuses continue, including massacres, forced recruitment, and arbitrary arrests. Women and girls face heightened risks of sexual violence, often occurring as they seek safety. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) recorded over 500 sexual violence cases and 11,300 civilian deaths in 2025, with many unaccounted for.

The displacement crisis has triggered a hunger crisis, with 21 million Sudanese facing acute food insecurity, 6.3 million of whom are in a state of food emergency, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Conflict areas like Darfur and the Kordofans are particularly affected, with food production severely disrupted, especially in Khartoum.

Health services are in disarray, affecting over 40% of Sudan’s population. Dr. Shible Sahbani from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that hospitals face overwhelming demand, and disease outbreaks are frequent. Attacks on operational hospitals have severely hindered healthcare access. Over three years, WHO documented over 200 attacks on healthcare, resulting in 2,052 deaths, with health workers being targeted.

The conflict in the Middle East also affects humanitarian aid to Sudan. The UN health agency’s logistics, mainly based in the UAE, face challenges due to disrupted supply routes, increasing the cost and time of aid delivery. Existing supplies are being depleted, and additional resources are urgently needed.