The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is urgently supporting millions of Sudanese people affected by devastating conflict.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This conflict has had a catastrophic impact on civilians, causing widespread displacement, destruction and a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions.
Nearly 25 million people, or more than half of the population, require urgent aid. Over 8.5 million have been forced to flee their homes. A looming famine threatens millions due to disrupted agriculture and supply chains. Many health facilities are non-functional, leaving millions without access to essential medical care.
“The situation in health clinics is beyond words,” said Amelie Chbat, who oversees health programs for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan. “The injured lack medicines, food, and water, and the elderly, women, and children are without essential treatments. And the situation is deteriorating.”
Thousands of civilians remain trapped by heavy fighting in Al Fasher, Sudan, where Al Saudi, the only remaining hospital, has suffered repeated attacks, and the hospital staff is running out of medical supplies.
Red Cross Red Crescent teams are working to support hospitals and health facilities with equipment and supplies, improving access to clean water, and providing displaced people in conflict-affected areas with emergency assistance.
Sudan in numbers
- Over 25 million people will experience high levels of acute food security. Over 8.5 million of these people with be suffering a food emergency and more than 750,000 people will be experiencing catastrophic food insecurity.
- 9.9 million people are internally displaced.
- Around 80% of health facilities are not currently functioning in areas most affected by the conflict.
- Almost 65% of the population lack access to health care.
Sarah James, a 23-year-old mother of two, has been surviving under the shadow of conflict-inflicted suffering and displacement, for the last 10 years. In early 2014, conflict in South Sudan forced her to flee her home country and seek refuge across the border in Sudan.
Given her past experience, this time when conflict broke out in Sudan in 2023, Sarah and her neighbours didn’t wait for the violence to reach them, they “just decided to run”.
After a long and perilous journey, an exhausted Sarah managed to reach Kaka, a remote village in South Sudan.
Thousands of civilians remain trapped due to the fighting with nowhere safe to go.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Response
The Sudanese Red Crescent is leading the humanitarian and relief response in conflict areas, providing first aid and urgent medical care, along with emergency supplies like food, water, and hygiene products, and psychosocial support.
Despite facing significant security and access challenges, the Sudanese Red Crescent and its Red Cross partners continue to operate in most parts of the country. Their efforts have resulted in:
- Over 75,000 people having received food and livelihood assistance
- More than 22,000 have received multipurpose cash assistance
- Over 1,100 people have benefited from health and nutrition information and more than 40,000 people have been reached through Psychosocial support sessions
- Improved access to clean water for more than 47,000 people.
- More than 3,300 families at accommodation centres benefited from Red Crescent shelter and essential needs distributions
“We urge the international community to increase their support to help us meet the urgent needs of the communities trapped in conflict. We cannot let Sudan become another forgotten crisis” – Aida Al-Sayed Abdullah, Secretary General of Sudanese Red Crescent
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*Last updated September 2024.