Sudan: Reaching people in dire need as crisis deepens

Across Darfur, civilians face some of the harshest consequences of the conflict. Whole neighborhoods and villages have been left largely deserted as repeated violence forces families to flee, many seeking refuge in overcrowded camps that struggle to meet even the most basic needs. Access to food and clean water is limited, health services are scarce, and people often arrive exhausted after days or weeks on the move, carrying the trauma of what they have witnessed and the uncertainty of where they can safely settle. 

In Khartoum, River Nile and Northern states, the conflict has left millions living with disrupted basic services and weakened systems of community support. Hospitals struggle to cope with mass casualties, deadly diseases such malaria or dengue and persistent shortages of supplies. Many neighbourhoods in Khartoum have seen repeated fighting, forcing people to move frequently or live in constant fear. Water plants, electricity grids and other essential infrastructure have been damaged or left without maintenance, deepening the hardship for civilians already under immense pressure. 

Kassala, Gedarif and Al Jazeera states host large numbers of displaced families who have arrived with few belongings and must now navigate an already overstretched humanitarian landscape. Many have lost sources of income and struggle to afford even the most basic items. Health facilities face chronic shortages, while recurring disease outbreaks - including cholera - place additional pressure on a system barely holding together. 

In Blue Nile, White Nile, Sennar and parts of Kordofan, communities live in an environment shaped by shifting front lines and contested control. Many areas are isolated, with limited access to markets, health care or humanitarian actors. Movement is often dangerous, and families may go months without reliable access to food, medical treatment or clean water. The combination of active hostilities and logistical challenges makes these regions among the hardest to reach. 

Across all regions, one of the most painful consequences of the conflict is the separation of families. Many people have fled in chaos; others have been cut off by fighting or are living in areas with no communication networks. Parents search for children, and siblings wait desperately for news of their loved ones.

Through our Restoring Family Links (RFL) programme, the ICRC, together with our primary partner the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) and Red Cross and Red Crescent societies of neighboring countries, works to reunite loved ones. We help people trace missing relatives and re-establish contact, we facilitate phone calls, register cases of the missing, and work to reunite families whenever possible. In crisis, this work offers a lifeline of hope and human connection. 

Despite our best efforts, there are critical areas we currently have limited or no sustained access to, such as Al Fasher and Kordofan region. Reaching people in these zones is our absolute priority. However, it depends entirely on securing security guarantees from all sides and having the logistical means to operate safely.  

The front lines are not static. A town accessible one week may become a battlefield the next, forcing us to constantly adapt our plans. Our ability to cross these lines is not a given; it is painstakingly built through continuous, confidential dialogue with weapon bearers, based on the trust that our work is solely humanitarian and impartial.

Our presence across Sudan – the largest ICRC operation in Africa –  is a commitment to the Sudanese people. While our operational reach is a day-to-day negotiation, our resolve is not.  

We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, safeguard civilians, and ensure that humanitarian assistance can reach those most affected. The needs in Sudan are immense, and timely support and protection can prevent further suffering. Humanity cannot be paused. The people of Sudan cannot wait.