Two years of war: An uncertain future for Sudan’s forcibly displaced

The ongoing conflict in Sudan, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, began on April 15, 2023. Today, two years later, the situation has sadly developed into one of the most critical humanitarian crises in the world. Over 30 million people – nearly 65 percent of Sudan’s population – now need urgent assistance to survive. 12.8 million people have been forcibly displaced, and famine, climatic shocks, and disease outbreaks have rendered the situation nothing short of catastrophic. The collapse of basic services has left two-thirds of the population in dire need of humanitarian assistance. 

“The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is both unprecedented - 30 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, the highest number ever recorded – and deteriorating. Extreme hunger has unfortunately become the norm, driven also exclusively by conflict and displacement. Nowhere is safe, including for humanitarians, and the lack of access to services can mean a life sentence to some people. But of course we remain committed to stay and deliver, but funding remains insufficient to meet the needs at scale", says DRC’s Country Director in Sudan, Heather Amstutz Ferrao.  

Today in London, a conference on Sudan’s humanitarian crisis will be co-hosted by the United Kingdom, the EU, France, and Germany. It follows widespread condemnation of the international community’s failure to protect civilians, and international pressure to address the situation

An unprecedented humanitarian and displacement crisis

The war in Sudan poses a critical threat to civilians. Violations of international humanitarian law are widespread and commonplace, including heavy shelling and aerial bombardment of residential areas, executions , arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, torture, sexual violence and targeted attacks on those attempting to flee the country. Attacks on humanitarian workers are all too common: more than 80 have been killed since the start of the conflict – 9 just over the last weekend. Unexploded ordnance contamination is also a major issue due to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.  

As always, the dangers of war go beyond military violence. The resultant destruction of Sudan’s critical infrastructure has led to economic collapse. Food production and supply chains have been hit particularly hard, leading to extreme food shortage, with famine already declared in some active conflict zones; as of October 2024, 26.6 million people are facing acute food insecurity in Sudan. Transport and trade routes are obstructed, limiting access to essential goods and humanitarian aid. Less than 25% of hospitals and health facilities remain functional and access to clean water and sanitation has dropped critically – this breakdown coincides with cholera and measles outbreaks among displaced populations.  

Sudan’s is the world’s largest internal displacement crisis. With 12.8 million internally displaced people (IDPs), and a further 6.7 million who have fled across borders, the urgency of the situation in Sudan cannot be overstated.

DRC’s humanitarian work in Sudan continues

DRC has been present and active in Sudan since 2004. It carries out lifesaving programming in protection, emergency response, shelter, food security and livelihoods, disaster risk reduction, camp management, and humanitarian mine action. Today, in the context of an unprecedented displacement crisis, DRC remains at the forefront of humanitarian efforts in Sudan. A key focus of its operations has been the delivery of clean water and protection services for survivors of gender-based violence. Displaced communities face heightened risks of violence, exploitation, and deprivation, so protection interventions are vital at this moment.