Sudan: Misery worsens amid plummeting aid for displaced people
Sudan's humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by cuts in international aid. Almost 34 million people are in need as war and drone strikes are making it difficult to deliver aid to the population.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are warning that Sudan's humanitarian crisis is worsening due to insufficient funding. The UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requires $2.9 billion (€2.62bn) to aid 20.4 million people, but only 47% of the needed funds have been raised.
Sudan's 33.7 million people, who are reliant on humanitarian aid, urgently require emergency shelter and basic household items. However, due to funding shortages, aid organizations have assisted only 10% of the required 15.4 million people. Sudan has been grappling with violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for three and a half years.
About 8.6 million people have fled within Sudan while 4.6 million sought refuge in neighboring countries; 5.2 million have since returned to their regions despite ongoing hostilities. Accurate figures on casualties are hard to obtain as fighting continues, internet communication is limited, and many aid workers have left the country.
An estimated 40,000 to 250,000 people have been killed. In many areas, civilians have been cut off from humanitarian aid since the start of the war and some have survived by consuming roots. Marina Peter, chairwoman of the Sudan and South Sudan Forum in Germany, expressed deep concern over the lack of assistance. Sudan experts criticize the international community for a sharp decline in humanitarian aid.
Körner, a Sudan specialist at Caritas International, laments the reduction in funding by major contributors like the United States, Germany, and the European Union. Caritas International, focusing on cash assistance, drinking water supplies, basic medical care, and seeds, relies exclusively on donations for its Sudan projects in 2026.
Experts warn that the crisis's consequences are becoming increasingly difficult to assess due to obstructed humanitarian access by warring parties. The United Kingdom and 31 other international partners, including Germany, issued a joint statement on October 23, highlighting that 19.5 million people, or about 41% of Sudan's population, face acute food insecurity.
They called for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and an increase in funding. The Sudanese government, however, denies any famine and claims its food reserves and agricultural output are sufficient. They also allege that warnings of famine are political. The government's claim that aid organizations have unrestricted access is deemed cynical by experts, as humanitarian organizations continue to face obstacles in providing assistance.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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