Sudan: The World’s Most Devastating Humanitarian and Displacement Crisis
1) The War: 2023 Clashes in Khartoum Mark the Collapse of Peace Efforts
By the end of 2022, hopes were high that a UN-backed peace process could finally restore civilian rule in Sudan. The country had experienced a tumultuous period following the military coup that ousted long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir, followed by violent crackdowns on pro-democracy protests.
In December 2022, former UN Special Representative for Sudan, Volker Perthes, expressed optimism, stating that a political agreement could pave the way for a democratic state. However, he also warned of significant unresolved issues—most notably, the proposed integration of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the two military factions that had allied to remove al-Bashir.
Tensions between these groups escalated in early 2023, leading to periodic clashes. The civil war officially began on April 15, when the RSF launched an attack on the capital, Khartoum. The conflict quickly spread across the country, forcing the United Nations to evacuate Khartoum and relocate its operations to the relatively stable coastal city of Port Sudan.
On Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described Sudan’s situation as a catastrophe of “staggering scale and brutality” at the African Union’s annual summit in Addis Ababa. He warned that the conflict is increasingly spilling into the wider region. The UN has strongly condemned the violence, while the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, continues to engage in peace efforts in close collaboration with regional organizations, including the African Union (AU).
2) Humanitarian Crisis: Over 30 Million in Urgent Need of Aid
The war has taken a devastating toll on Sudan’s civilian population. An estimated 30.4 million people—more than two-thirds of the country’s total population—now require humanitarian assistance, ranging from food and healthcare to basic necessities.
The economic collapse triggered by the war has led to soaring prices for food, fuel, and essential goods, making them unaffordable for many households. Acute hunger is worsening, with over half of Sudan’s population experiencing severe food insecurity. Famine has already been confirmed in five locations, including North Darfur and the Nuba Mountains, with conditions expected to deteriorate further in at least five more areas by May.
“This is a critical moment,” warned Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, emphasizing that food shortages are affecting vulnerable communities, and malnutrition rates are rising sharply.
Efforts to provide aid are severely constrained by ongoing insecurity, which limits access to affected areas and puts humanitarian workers’ lives at risk. Despite these challenges, the UN and its partners continue to deliver support. The World Food Programme (WFP) is distributing emergency food aid, while the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) successfully provided seeds to over half a million households during the last planting season. By 2024, at least 15.6 million people had received some form of assistance from the UN.
Sudan’s healthcare system is also in crisis, with many hospitals and clinics destroyed or abandoned. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are actively working to combat disease outbreaks, supporting vaccination campaigns for cholera and malaria and deploying mobile medical teams.
3) Mass Displacement: Millions Forced from Their Homes
The war has displaced millions, both inside Sudan and across its borders, creating severe regional instability. Over three million people have fled the country as refugees, while nearly nine million are internally displaced—equivalent to the entire population of Switzerland.
Constant shifts in conflict zones have triggered repeated waves of displacement, making humanitarian assistance even more challenging. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has labeled Sudan’s situation as “the largest and fastest-growing displacement crisis in the world.”
Displaced individuals face dire conditions, with limited access to food, water, and medical care. Disease outbreaks, including cholera and measles, are rampant in overcrowded camps. Many of Sudan’s neighboring countries, already struggling with economic and security challenges, are overwhelmed by the influx of refugees. In response, the UN migration agency (IOM) and UNHCR are working to support host nations and provide basic relief to those fleeing the violence.
4) Escalating Violence: Women and Girls Most Vulnerable
The conflict has killed over 18,800 civilians, with fatalities increasing rapidly. In early February alone, at least 275 people lost their lives in just one week—three times the death toll of the previous week.
Civilians are enduring relentless bombings, artillery shelling, and drone attacks, with South Kordofan and Blue
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