With Sudan’s devastating civil war having now stretched over 18 months, the country is facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe marked by widespread hunger and destruction. The violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has ravaged infrastructure, caused scores of civilian casualties, and forced millions into displacement and food insecurity.
Adnan Hezam, spokesperson for Sudan’s International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), described the humanitarian condition in Sudan as “devastating”.
“Eighteen months of intense conflict since April last year have left tens of thousands dead and injured, forced over 2 million Sudanese to seek refuge in neighboring countries, and displaced over 6 million more internally.”
The conflict has had a catastrophic impact on Sudan’s agricultural and health sectors.
“Most health institutions and centers are out of service, and those that remain open are operating with limited staff and resources,” Hezam elaborated.
Meanwhile, in regions like Darfur, Al-Jazeera, and Khartoum, targeted attacks on markets and escalating violence have drastically increased food prices, while damage to farms, crops, and agricultural machinery is further undermining food supplies. Local civil society groups report that the RSF has imposed mandatory taxes on farming and livestock in Darfur and obstructed humanitarian aid routes in Blue Nile State.
Against this background, the UN has reported that the Zamzam camp in North Darfur, currently sheltering around half a million displaced people, is on the brink of experiencing the harshest famine. Zamzan is just one of the about 20 refugee camps in Sudan.
Rawaa, a 44-year-old widow who fled to a displacement camp in Al-Fashir with her four children, lost her husband when he was killed in a marketplace while trying to find food for his family. She told DevelopmentAid that the camp had only received international food aid once since their arrival in April, blaming this on the restrictions imposed by the Sudanese army that prevent aid from crossing through the zones it controls.
Like many women in the camp, Rawaa resorts to gathering leaves and cooking them with seeds in the hope of easing her children’s hunger.
The harvest season that begins this month has little chance of improving the situation. Experts warn that many farmers may be unable to replant crops due to infrastructure devastation, the high cost of seeds, and ongoing security threats. Two-thirds of Sudan’s population lives in rural areas, and experts are urging local authorities to facilitate safe farming by supporting crop protection committees, stressing that the war is systematically dismantling the rural economy.
Donor and international funding are far from being sufficient either. Sudan’s Humanitarian Response Plan, which requires US$1.44 billion in aid, has received just 50.8% of this amount, creating significant gaps in the humanitarian response.
ICRC spokesperson Adnan Hezam noted that “Sudan’s crisis risks being overshadowed as other global conflicts are capturing attention, like those in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine.”
Despite this, the ICRC, in cooperation with the Sudanese Red Crescent, continues to deliver humanitarian aid across conflict-affected areas. Hezam explained:
“Our priority remains protection and assistance, especially in health. We supply medical and surgical resources to hospitals near conflict lines and provide food and financial aid in areas deeply affected by violence.”
In addition to the ICRC, several other organizations are contributing to these vital efforts, including the Association for Aid and Relief, the American Refugee Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Mercy Corps International Sudan, World Relief International, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), and ZOA Refugee Care.
Hezam expressed hope that international efforts will prioritize Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, underscoring the urgent need to reduce suffering and ensure access to essential services for millions.
