Sudan: The Largest Humanitarian Crisis on Record

Translated by Beatrice Mereta

The Origin of the Conflict

Nearly two months have passed since the second anniversary of the outbreak of war in Sudan, which began on April 15, 2023. The conflict erupted when tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Sudan’s army chief and de facto head of state Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, escalated into a struggle for power.

It is important to note that both factions are accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes. Prior to the current conflict, the RSF had already been charged with human rights violations. Human Rights Watch compiled evidence in a report documenting genocide and sexual violence committed against the Masalit community and other non-Arab ethnic groups in Darfur, with the aim of carrying out ethnic cleansing.

Frightening Data on the Humanitarian Crisis

Today, 30.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance—a figure that has been exacerbated by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which had already affected approximately 15.8 million individuals

According to the United Nations, this is the world’s largest displacement crisis, with one-third of the population forced to flee their homes and live in camps lacking medical and humanitarian support. In an attempt to escape the fighting, more and more people are fleeing to Chad and South Sudan — two of the world's poorest nations — both of which are also at risk of political instability, climate crises, and malnutrition.

According to the nonprofit organization Action Against Hunger, nearly 26 million Sudanese need food assistance, with severe and chronic acute malnutrition on the rise. Blocking access to food aid not only violates the UN Security Council resolution prohibiting the use of starvation as a weapon of war but also risks turning the crisis into the world’s worst food crisis. Many areas are on the brink of famine, already confirmed in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur—the largest in Sudan—with up to 8 million more people at risk soon.

Following attacks and the occupation of hospitals by armed forces, only 25% of health facilities across the country remain operational. The situation is worsened by the rainy season, which has fueled cholera and malaria outbreaks—catastrophic due to a lack of medicine, vaccines, and basic services such as water, especially for children. The mental health impact is equally severe for those fleeing or trapped in conflict zones, with widespread trauma, exposure to violence, including sexual violence—used, according to the UN, as a weapon of ethnic cleansing in the civil conflict.

More than 12 million women in Sudan require support after suffering gender-based and mass sexual violence committed by the RSF—atrocities documented in a report by Amnesty International, classifying them as war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report mentions individual and gang rapes of women and girls as young as 15, as well as cases of sexual slavery, severe beatings, torture with hot liquids or sharp blades, killings. Testimonies include accounts of raped healthcare workers punished for failing to save wounded soldiers and cases of violence even against infants.

Humanitarian aid and supplies to vulnerable regions are crucial yet permits to cross front lines have been repeatedly denied, and humanitarian personnel face extreme difficulty in obtaining visas and travel authorizations within Sudan.

Attacks on El-Fasher attributed to the RSF have intensified since the SAF retook control of Khartoum on March 26, forcing 400,000 people to evacuate Zamzam camp. The latest assault caused 30 deaths, less than a week after a previous RSF and allied militia attack on El-Fasher and nearby displaced persons camps Zamzam and Abu Shouk, which lasted two days and killed over 400 people.

The Rest of the World

How can two domestic forces wage such a violent war for years? The answer lies in a network of international alliances.

Sudan has accused the United Arab Emirates of complicity in genocide, claiming they supported the RSF militarily, politically, and economically—supplying weapons and drones, and facilitating the recruitment of mercenaries.

The case has been brought before the International Court of Justice, citing complicity in the extermination of the non-Arab Massalit population in western Darfur. Abu Dhabi has denied all involvement and requested the case’s dismissal. The Gulf nation is believed to be pursuing geopolitical aims in the Middle East and East Africa and seeking to exploit Sudan’s resources through illicit gold trafficking agreements.

Nevertheless, the UAE has donated $70 million to the UN for humanitarian aid and is part of the ALPS initiative—Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan—also signed by the UN, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Switzerland, the United States, and the African Union. The initiative aims to open corridors through Chad to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, though these routes are also known hubs for illegal arms trafficking to both factions. The RSF reportedly receives additional support from Libya and Chad, while diplomatic support for the SAF comes from Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, and Egypt, with military backing from Turkey, Iran, and Russia—the latter allegedly supplying weapons to both sides.

What Lies Ahead?

As The Financial Times reports, the future of this conflict lies in the hands of external actors based in the Middle East and Africa—some of whom are also the main stakeholders in Syria’s future, while others are Sudan’s immediate neighbors.

However, it is essential to recognize that a conflict of this magnitude affects everyone, as its humanitarian and practical consequences extend beyond Sudan. Responding to the calls from the UN and NGOs to facilitate humanitarian access is crucial, but even more vital is international diplomatic mediation—to protect civilians and ensure the creation of a future civilian government.

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