Amina (name changed for security reasons) is a Sudanese woman who has been internally displaced within her own country. She and her family arrived in their host community with nothing. They were fleeing violence, and today they survive thanks to small jobs in an informal market. Food and water shortages are constant; maintaining basic hygiene is a daily struggle, and insecurity is such that even returning home with the humanitarian aid she has received — food and water supplies — means living in constant fear of having it stolen along the way.
Amina’s case is not unique. After 1,000 days of uninterrupted armed conflict, her needs—like those of almost half the Sudanese population—are still far from being met. Her greatest wish is simple and urgent: for the war to end, for there to be security, and for her family to be able to live with dignity.
Today, there are three declared famines in the world, a classification that only applies to the most extreme conditions of hunger. Of these, two have been declared in Sudan, both in less than a year: in El Fasher at the end of 2024 and in Kadugli in November 2025, with 20 other locations at risk in Darfur and Kordofan. The conflict has devastated food systems: prolonged sieges, the destruction of markets and agricultural land, the collapse of the economy and the disruption of trade routes have led to extreme inflation and a drastic loss of purchasing power. In many areas, food barely reaches the markets, and when it does, its prices are unaffordable for most families.
These circumstances have led Sudan to suffer one of the most severe hunger crises in the world. Today, more than 21 million people suffer from hunger daily. Of these, at least 375,000 are surviving in catastrophic conditions, facing extreme hunger, acute malnutrition and a real risk of death. Countless families are forced to survive by eating leaves and animal feed.
After 1,000 days of war, the impact goes far beyond hunger. Currently, more than 33 million people in Sudan are in urgent need of assistance due to lack of food and difficult access to basic services such as healthcare, clean water and protection.
The collapse of health systems is alarming. Between 70% and 80% of hospitals and health centres in conflict-affected areas are not operational. More than half of the population lacks access to basic healthcare, in a context marked by continuous attacks on hospitals and healthcare personnel.
Furthermore, 60% of drinking water services are not functioning. This lack of access to safe water and minimum hygiene conditions has led to outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as cholera, which further exacerbate the pressure on already collapsed health services. By the end of last year, more than 72,000 cases of cholera had been detected, with more than 2,000 deaths recorded in the country.
“Since the start of the war, 14 million Sudanese have been forced to flee their homes to escape the conflict, more than half of them minors. This situation has led to what is now the world’s largest displacement crisis,” says Samy Guessabi, director of Action Against Hunger in Sudan. Almost 10 million people have sought refuge in displacement camps within the country, while more than 4 million have fled to neighbouring countries such as Chad, Egypt and South Sudan.
Recently, in Tawila (North Darfur), the arrival of displaced persons fleeing El Fasher increased significantly due to the intensification of violence in the regional capital. At the same time, mass displacement has also increased significantly in Kordofan, especially in North Kordofan and Babanusa in West Kordofan, due to the escalation of the conflict in recent weeks. However, the situation in the displacement camps in host communities remains extremely precarious: they are overcrowded and on the verge of collapse due to the number of people arriving every day.
Displaced women and girls face an exacerbated risk of gender-based violence. Today, more than 12 million Sudanese, mainly women and girls, are at risk of suffering or witnessing rape, sexual abuse, abduction, trafficking, child marriage and exploitation. This figure has increased by 80% since 2024 and by 350% since the war began in April 2023.
Humanitarian access in Sudan poses a critical challenge for humanitarian organisations: “Since the war began on April 15 2023, sieges, active fighting and mass displacement have severely hampered the delivery of aid to the areas most in need, depriving millions of people of basic goods and services,” explains Guessabi.
However, despite the insecurity and severe access restrictions, Action Against Hunger continues to work with its teams on the ground. In crisis hotspots such as Darfur and Kordofan, the organisation maintains interventions in health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, food security, protection and cash assistance. In addition, through mobile clinics, basic health services are brought to the most isolated communities, allowing people who do not have access to hospitals to receive medical care without being forced to leave their communities.
As Sudan reaches 1,000 days of conflict and needs continue to rise dramatically, only 33% of the necessary humanitarian aid has been funded. Action Against Hunger is therefore making an urgent appeal to the international community to step up efforts and resources to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel, ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and allow the safe passage of people fleeing the conflict.
One mother told our staff: “The world has forgotten us. People outside Sudan don’t know what’s happening here, but I hope they begin to understand that there are many needs here. We need the world to end the war, help the people and allow us to return to our homes. We need peace.”
Contact us at info@actionagainsthunger.ca for more information and interviews with spokespersons.
Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 56 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
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