Sudan enters fourth year of conflict; millions remain displaced and hungry

As Sudan's conflict enters its fourth year, the country is facing what aid agencies describe as the world's largest humanitarian and displacement crisis, with record numbers of people fleeing across borders and millions pushed to the brink of famine.

More than 30 million people – over half of Sudan's population – now require urgent humanitarian assistance, while nearly 14 million have been displaced since fighting erupted in April 2023. Of those, about 4.5 million have fled to neighboring countries including Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and the Central African Republic

The crisis is rapidly worsening as hunger deepens. An estimated 28.9 million people – 61.7% of the population – are facing acute food insecurity, based on the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. Aid groups warn that millions are surviving on just one meal a day, with famine conditions already confirmed in parts of the country

The conflict, driven by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has devastated agriculture, disrupted markets and, according to humanitarian organizations, increasingly weaponized food access.

Neighboring countries are struggling to cope with the influx. South Sudan alone has received more than 1.3 million people, with transit centres such as Renk operating at more than four times their capacity. Aid workers report families sleeping in open areas, shrinking food rations and limited access to clean water, forcing many to rely on unsafe sources. Since January, at least 26 deaths in Renk have been linked to severe malnutrition and shortages of medical supplies.

Chad has taken in more than one million Sudanese refugees – more than in the previous two decades combined – yet funding has sharply declined. United States contributions to the response dropped from $87.5 million in 2024 to $39.9 million in 2025, covering less than 10% of requirements even as needs continue to rise.

Across the region, aid agencies say funding cuts are forcing them to scale back or suspend operations. In Renk, Oxfam’s support has dropped from more than 40,000 people to just over 7,000, with food assistance no longer included. Families now survive on as little as five litres of water per day, while sanitation facilities are stretched far beyond capacity.

Humanitarian organizations warn that women and girls are among the hardest hit. Many face heightened risks of sexual violence when collecting water or accessing markets, while female‑headed households are three times more likely to experience food shortages.

The United Nations has also reported widespread atrocities and ethnically driven violence. Famine thresholds for child malnutrition have already been exceeded in areas such as Um Baru and Kernoi, with rates nearly double emergency benchmarks.

Despite mounting evidence, Sudan's army‑aligned government has denied the existence of famine, while the Rapid Support Forces has rejected responsibility for conditions in areas under its control.

Diplomatic efforts are continuing, with African Union and Germany set to co-host an international conference on Sudan in Berlin on April 15 aimed at advancing peace efforts and mobilizing aid. However, aid groups say urgent action is needed. 

"This is a damning political failure," said Oxfam's Africa director, Fati N'Zi-Hassane, warning that millions across Sudan and neighboring countries cannot afford further delays as the crisis deepens.