The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continues to be one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. The situation remains dire, characterized by widespread displacement, acute hunger, and ongoing violence, often targeting civilians and humanitarian aid efforts.
Current situation:
1. Escalating Humanitarian Crisis:
- Mass Displacement: A “devastating milestone” has been reached, with over 4 million people having fled Sudan into neighboring countries since the conflict began. This adds to approximately 9 million internally displaced people within Sudan, bringing the total number of forcibly displaced individuals to over 12 million. The scale and speed of this displacement crisis are unprecedented.
- Famine and Food Insecurity: Nearly 25 million people in Sudan are experiencing acute hunger, with over two million facing famine conditions or at risk, particularly in North Darfur. This severe food shortage is preventing people from getting basic nutrients, leading to heightened risks of illnesses and infections.
- Health Crisis: The conflict has crippled essential services, leading to worsened disease outbreaks, including cholera. Sudan’s Ministry of Health reported over 60,000 cholera cases and more than 1,600 deaths between August 2024 and May 2025. Over 3.4 million children under five are at high risk of epidemic diseases. Hospitals and clinics are often damaged or non-functional, and medical supplies are scarce.
- Regional Impact: The crisis has created a regional humanitarian emergency, with neighboring countries like Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt struggling to cope with the influx of refugees. Many of these host countries are already facing their own economic challenges and limited resources. Chad, for example, has received over 800,000 arrivals from Sudan since the conflict began, bringing its total refugee population to over a million.
2. Attacks on Aid Workers and Civilians:
- Deadly Aid Convoy Attack: On June 3, 2025, a joint humanitarian convoy from the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF was attacked near Al Koma in North Darfur. Five Sudanese contractors working for WFP and UNICEF were killed, and several more were injured. Multiple trucks were burned, and critical humanitarian supplies were damaged. This 15-truck convoy was carrying life-saving food and nutrition supplies to famine-affected Al Fasher and was the first UN humanitarian convoy attempting to reach the city in over a year. The route had been shared in advance with both warring parties, making the attack a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
- Blame Game: Both the SAF and the RSF have traded accusations regarding responsibility for the attack. The RSF claimed the convoy was hit by a military aircraft in a “pre-planned attack,” while the military-led government stated that aid trucks were “treacherously attacked by assault drones operated by the rebel Rapid Support Forces militia.” Independent verification has been difficult.
- Ongoing Obstructions: This incident is the latest in a string of assaults on humanitarian operations. Aid efforts are consistently met with violence, obstruction, and intimidation. In recent weeks, WFP premises in Al Fasher were bombed, and an attack on El Obeid Hospital in North Kordofan killed several medical staff.
- Indiscriminate Attacks: Human Rights Watch reported that the Sudanese Armed Forces used unguided air-dropped bombs to carry out indiscriminate attacks in residential and commercial neighborhoods in Nyala, South Darfur, in early February 2025, killing and injuring scores of civilians. Such actions are apparent war crimes.
3. Political Stalemate and Continued Violence:
- Two-Year Conflict: The war between the SAF and the RSF has raged for over two years, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and plunging more than half of Sudan’s population into acute hunger.
- Siege of El Fasher: El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, remains one of the most vulnerable regions and has been under RSF siege since May 2024. The recent attack on the aid convoy highlights the severe access challenges to this besieged city where hundreds of thousands are at high risk of malnutrition and starvation.
- Calls for Accountability: The UN and various humanitarian organizations have strongly condemned the attacks on aid workers and civilians, demanding urgent investigations and accountability for perpetrators. They reiterate that humanitarian workers and operations are protected under international law, and attacking them is not only unlawful but inhumane.
The situation in Sudan is a catastrophic blend of conflict, displacement, and a rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. The international community continues to call for an immediate end to hostilities and unimpeded humanitarian access to save millions of lives. Source, Aljazeera
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