Sudan Faces Catastrophic Humanitarian Crisis Amid Ongoing Civil War
As Sudan approaches the 500th day of its devastating civil war, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with over 18,800 people killed and at least 33,000 injured since April 2023.
The conflict, primarily between Sudan’s army led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has plunged the nation of 46 million into chaos, leaving millions grappling with hunger and disease.
Currently, Sudan is experiencing the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, with an estimated 10.7 million people displaced, including 5 million children. According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), approximately 2.1 million individuals have fled to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Chad. More than 20% of Sudan’s population has been forced to abandon their homes due to the ongoing conflict, representing about 14% of the global internally displaced person (IDP) population.
The humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by heavy rains and flooding, which have impacted 143,000 people across 12 states since June, displacing an additional 27,000. Food insecurity is at an all-time high, with 26 million people facing acute hunger. The UN reports that 755,000 individuals are on the brink of famine, particularly in areas like the Zamzam displacement camp.
Healthcare access remains severely limited, with two-thirds of the population lacking adequate medical services. Less than 25% of health facilities are operational in the hardest-hit areas, and there have been 88 attacks on healthcare since April 2023, resulting in numerous casualties. Infectious diseases, including cholera and dengue, are rampant, exacerbating the health crisis.
Education is also in jeopardy, with over 17 million school-aged children unable to access safe learning environments. Many schools have been closed for over a year, and attacks on educational facilities have claimed the lives of children, further deepening the crisis in Sudan.
