Sudan

What is happening

War broke out in Sudan on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Civilians have carried the greatest cost through violence, displacement, hunger, disease and the destruction of homes and public services.

Around 14 million people have been forced to flee since the war began. Many are still displaced inside Sudan, while millions of others have crossed into neighboring countries. Some families have had to flee more than once as fighting reaches places that were once considered safer.

Nearly 34 million people now need humanitarian assistance. More than 21 million are facing acute food insecurity, and famine or catastrophic hunger has been reported in parts of the country.

Hospitals, schools, markets, farms, water systems and roads have been damaged or cut off. Medical workers are trying to keep facilities open without enough medicine, electricity, equipment or staff.

Sexual violence, attacks on civilians and the separation of families have caused suffering that cannot be understood through numbers alone. Every figure represents someone who has lost safety, a home, a loved one or the ability to meet their most basic needs.

Why aid matters

Aid can mean a neighborhood kitchen staying open for another week. It can mean medicine reaching a clinic, clean water reaching a displacement camp or a family being able to leave an unsafe area.

Sudanese volunteers, doctors, mutual-aid groups and emergency response networks have continued helping their communities under extremely dangerous conditions. Supporting them helps that work continue.

• Food and nutrition support
• Community kitchens and meal distribution
• Clean drinking water and sanitation
• Medicine and support for hospitals and clinics
• Care for injured people and survivors of violence
• Shelter and supplies for displaced families
• Maternal, newborn and child health care
• Protection and support for women and girls
• Family tracing and reunification
• Mobility aids and accessible support for disabled people
• Transport and relocation from unsafe areas

How you can help

There is no single correct way to help. Donate when you can, share campaigns when you cannot and keep speaking about Sudan after it leaves the news.

1. Support a Sudanese-led organization or community initiative.
2. Donate to a community kitchen feeding people inside Sudan.
3. Support a displaced family after reading and checking its campaign.
4. Donate through a larger humanitarian or medical organization.
5. Share original campaign links so people can read the latest updates.
6. Check the publication date before reposting reports or statistics.
7. Keep following Sudanese organizers, journalists and community groups.

Sudanese-led aid

Sudanese-led organizations understand the communities they serve and often reach people who receive little attention from larger aid systems. Their work includes food, water, health care, shelter, education and support for displaced families.

Local organizations may change their donation methods as banking, internet access and security conditions change. Check their latest posts before contributing.

Community kitchens

Community kitchens are run by people feeding their own neighborhoods. Donations help buy flour, rice, vegetables, cooking oil, fuel, water and other supplies so meals can continue when families have nowhere else to turn.

These kitchens are people cooking for neighbors, displaced families, children and older people during a time of severe hunger.

Community kitchens can close, move or change payment methods with very little notice. Check that a campaign is still active and posting recent updates before donating or sharing.

Humanitarian organizations

Larger organizations can support hospitals, water systems, medical teams, nutrition programs and other work that requires more staff, supplies and coordination.

Families and direct campaigns

Direct campaigns can help families pay for food, medicine, shelter, transport or relocation. These campaigns are personal, and their needs may change quickly.

Before donating or sharing

• Read the full campaign and its newest updates.
• Check when the most recent update was posted.
• Look at who created the campaign and who receives the funds.
• Check whether the use of donations is clearly explained.
• Look for consistent names, images and information.
• Share the original campaign link instead of a screenshot.
• Do not share private information that has not been made public.
• Remember that campaigns may close or change as needs change.

Learn more

Sudan should not only receive attention when a new tragedy reaches the news. These pages can help you follow the crisis, understand current needs and see what organizations are doing.

Check the publication date on every report. Older figures may no longer reflect the scale of displacement, hunger or humanitarian need.

• United Nations OCHA: Sudan
• OCHA Sudan humanitarian updates
• OCHA reports for Sudan
• UNHCR Sudan displacement data
• World Food Programme: Sudan emergency
• International Committee of the Red Cross
• Médecins Sans Frontières
• UNICEF Sudan appeal
• SAPA Hope for Sudan
• Nas Al Sudan donation directory