The United Nations has declared that Sudan is currently experiencing the largest displacement crisis globally. According to the UN Refugee Agency, a staggering 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, with thousands of families continuing to be displaced from El Fasher and the Darfur region.
Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stated that “millions of Sudanese are in dire need of assistance and that civilians and aid workers are being killed with impunity.” He emphasized the urgent need to address the immense scale of the displacement, highlighting that 12 million individuals have been uprooted from their lives.
Laerke called for immediate action to ensure safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid and for the protection and support of local organizations working on the ground. The UN underscores the critical importance of enabling aid workers to reach those in need without fear of violence or obstruction.
Echoing these concerns, Shaun Hughes, Emergency Coordinator for the World Food Programme (WFP) for the Sudan crisis, described the situation as “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis by any measure.” He warned that approximately 25 million people – half of the country’s population – are facing severe hunger. Furthermore, nearly 5 million children and mothers are suffering from acute malnutrition.
Sudan has been gripped by armed conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. This ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of thousands and the displacement of approximately 13 million people.
Currently, the RSF controls all five states of the Darfur region in western Sudan, with the exception of some northern areas of North Darfur State, which remain under army control. The Sudanese army maintains control over most areas of the remaining 13 out of 18 states, located in the south, north, east, and center of the country, including the capital Khartoum.
The humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to deteriorate, demanding immediate and sustained international attention to alleviate the suffering of millions affected by this devastating conflict.
