Crisis Overview
Sudan's crisis erupted in April 2023 when fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum. The power struggle between two military factions that had jointly staged a coup in October 2021 rapidly spread across the country, engulfing Darfur, Kordofan, and other regions. The conflict has produced one of the fastest-growing displacement emergencies in recorded history.
Current Displacement
Over 9 million people have been internally displaced, making Sudan the largest internal displacement crisis in the world. An additional 2.8 million have fled to neighboring countries including Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic, many of which were already managing their own humanitarian emergencies. The speed of displacement has been extraordinary: Sudan reached 9 million IDPs in 18 months, a pace three times faster than Syria experienced at the peak of its crisis.
Key Humanitarian Challenges
Over 25 million people, more than half the population, face acute food insecurity, with multiple areas at risk of famine. Between 70 and 80 percent of health facilities in conflict zones are non-functional. Disease outbreaks including cholera, dengue, and measles have spread rapidly through displaced populations. Schools across conflict areas have closed, leaving millions of children without education. The agricultural sector, which employs the majority of the population, has been severely disrupted, threatening food production for years to come.
International Response
OCHA coordinates the humanitarian response but faces severe access constraints, with both warring parties accused of obstructing aid delivery. UNHCR manages refugee operations in neighboring host countries. WFP has scaled food assistance but describes Sudan as one of the most underfunded crises globally. WHO supports disease surveillance and the remaining health infrastructure. UNICEF provides emergency education, nutrition, and child protection services. Cross-border operations from Chad provide partial access to Darfur.
UNHCR
OCHA HDX
ACLED
IOM DTM
WFP
IDMC
ReliefWeb