The humanitarian situation in Sudan and solidarity with the Sudanese people (March 2025)
By Dr Lutz Oette
The armed conflict and its humanitarian consequences in Sudan
Sudan is a diverse and historically, culturally and materially rich country. In April 2019, sustained civilian protests resulted in the fall of the al-Bashir dictatorship that had ruled the country for almost 30 years. The people’s wish for a democratic and peaceful Sudan was thwarted during the following transitional period, which effectively ended when the Sudanese military staged a coup in October 2021. The ensuing period was marked by continuous protests, a lack of governance and a deterioration in the country’s economic situation. It also witnessed increased in-fighting between Sudan’s military-security forces, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The internal struggles of the two main actors have frustrated the civilian transition and democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people and erupted, on 15 April 2023, into open warfare.
Two years into this devastating war, the humanitarian situation in Sudan is catastrophic. Aerial bombing and fighting has devastated cities and regions, destroying critical civilian infrastructure, including facilities such as hospitals and schools, the economy and livelihoods. This situation: – targeted attacks on ethnic groups and individuals, the looting of property, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law have resulted in the biggest forced displacement crisis in the world. A total of 12,510,544 million persons are forcibly displaced, 8,856,313 of whom within Sudan and 3,388,082 outside, primarily in neighbouring countries, as of 10 February 2025 according to UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).
The figures setting out the level of humanitarian needs are stark: 30.4 million persons out of a total population of 47.5 million require multiple forms of assistance for a total of $4.2 billion, with 26 million persons living with food insecurity, and even famine conditions in several locations, as set out in the OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. These figures risk remaining abstract, however, if they do not tell the story of what it means for people in Sudan to survive and meet basic needs in these circumstances.
For millions, it has become a daily struggle, for themselves and dependants, marked by a pernicious combination of a persistent lack – of cash to purchase food or water or access to direct provision of food and water, and the same for medicines or treatment, adequate shelter, education, etc. – and the presence of security threats. The widespread, terrifying prevalence of gender-based violence committed by armed actors aggravate the insecurity for girls and women, and, for those who have been violated, the difficulty of obtaining the required assistance and support. Many of those affected by such violence, or indeed other forms of violence, or the threat thereof, must live with the trauma with little or no support, let alone access to justice, in place.
Key developments
International responses important but insufficient
International actors, such as the United Nations, through several of its agencies, regional bodies, individual states and international humanitarian organisations have engaged to address the humanitarian situation in Sudan. However, several factors have undermined the overall effectiveness of responses. Firstly, to begin with, actors did not appear to prioritise the crisis in Sudan, including through coordinated human rights diplomacy, in a manner that is commensurate with its scale, in terms of level of diplomatic and operational engagement and financial contributions.
Secondly, there is a lack of international consensus and consequent engagement with the warring parties to protect civilians and allow access to humanitarian aid and, ultimately, to stop the war. This was particularly evident when Russia blocked a draft United Nations Security Council resolution on 18 November 2024 which represented a first concerted international effort to address the situation, underpinned by the development of a compliance mechanism. The resolution had called on the parties, inter alia, ‘to agree on humanitarian pauses and arrangements, on a sustained basis, to ensure the safe passage of civilians and the delivery of adequate humanitarian aid…’ It also called on them ‘to allow and facilitate the full, rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained crossline and cross-border humanitarian access into and throughout Sudan in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law, including through promoting the safety, security and freedom of movement of all humanitarian personnel and commodities without bureaucratic and other impediments.’
Further, the resolution encouraged ‘the international community to urgently provide the necessary support for the scaling-up of humanitarian assistance needed to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sudan and for people displaced from Sudan across the region [and] Member States to consider providing greater funding and support for local and community-based initiatives and mutual aid groups’ while calling on the parties to ensure the protection of these groups. The African Union Peace and Security Council, in a Communiqué of 14 February 2025, urged ‘the warring parties to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the population in need’ and called ‘on the two parties to facilitate the opening of many humanitarian corridors and to allow the safe and unhindered delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to populations in need.’
Thirdly, even after there has been a growing awareness of the need to address the humanitarian situation, the financial contributions by states, organisations and the public at large has been inadequate. In 2024, 34.7% of the funding needed for the implementation of the UN Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan remained unmet. The funding challenge became even more profound when USAID foreign assistance, including for Sudan, with the US representing the biggest donor, was suspended by the US administration on 20 January 2025. The overall shortfall in funding to meet existing needs will therefore be even larger than had already been the case at that point.
Remarkable national mutual support and resilience
Blocked access to humanitarian aid to certain areas by the warring parties and inadequate levels of available funding demonstrate the limitations of a system that relies exclusively on international aid. To meet existing needs, members of the revolutionary, grassroots Resistance Committees operated Emergency Response Rooms, including various initiatives, such as Food Kitchens, provided local humanitarian support, with support from international and/or national actors.
They have done so at great risk to themselves because many activists have been targeted by the warring parties and exposed to human rights violations such as arbitrary arrest, torture and extrajudicial killings. In addition, Sudanese, individually and collectively through organisations and networks, have transferred money to people in Sudan to support them throughout the crisis. It is difficult to establish the scale and impact of all these activities in the current environment. While they have to date been insufficient to qualify as adequate crisis response, they have clearly played a major role in meeting multiple needs at the local level.
Self-help and solidarity with the Sudanese people and their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic Sudan
Sudan’s people, with the youth and women playing a prominent role, staged a revolution beginning in December 2018, with the slogan: Freedom, peace, and justice. More than six years later, the dreams for a peaceful, democratic country appear scattered, with most of its people struggling to navigate multiple challenges to survive. Yet, the level of organised self-help and mutual support, from people within Sudan and the Sudanese diaspora, shows resilience and a commitment that goes beyond survival. It is a commitment to civilian engagement and organisation in a public-minded spirit that contrasts starkly with the devastation inflicted by the warring parties and their backers. Supporting the Sudanese people in these extremely testing times therefore demonstrates both a concern for their elementary physical and mental well-being and solidarity with their aspirations for a peaceful, democratic Sudan.