What's happened
The Sudan conflict between the army and Rapid Support Forces has entered its fourth year, killing over 40,000 and displacing 14 million. Healthcare systems have collapsed, with attacks on hospitals and widespread hunger affecting 21 million people. Sexual violence and drone strikes continue, while international aid remains critically underfunded as peace talks falter.
What's behind the headline?
Humanitarian Catastrophe
The Sudan conflict has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with nearly two-thirds of the population needing aid. The collapse of healthcare and food systems, combined with ongoing violence, is pushing millions toward famine and disease.
Weaponization of Starvation and Sexual Violence
The use of starvation as a weapon and systematic sexual violence, particularly by the RSF, reveals a brutal strategy to destabilize communities. This exacerbates trauma and undermines social cohesion.
Drone Warfare and Civilian Impact
The surge in drone strikes has killed hundreds of civilians, disrupted aid delivery, and destroyed critical infrastructure. This modern warfare tactic intensifies the conflict's lethality and complicates humanitarian access.
International Response and Funding Gaps
Despite pledges exceeding $1 billion, funding remains critically insufficient, with only 16% of the UN's $2.9 billion appeal covered. Political deadlock and external arms flows hinder peace efforts and prolong suffering.
Forecast
Without an immediate ceasefire and enforcement of arms embargoes, the conflict will deepen regional instability and prolong the humanitarian disaster. Aid agencies will struggle to meet growing needs, and millions will face worsening poverty and hunger.
How we got here
The war began in April 2023 after a power struggle between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has devastated the country, causing mass displacement, food insecurity, and attacks on civilians and infrastructure, especially in Darfur, Kordofan, and Blue Nile states.
Our analysis
According to All Africa, senior UN officials have described Sudan as an "atrocities laboratory," highlighting sieges, sexual violence, and drone attacks killing 700 civilians in early 2026 alone. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for unity and an end to hostilities, emphasizing that funding alone cannot replace peace. Al Jazeera reports that 14 million people have been displaced, with 40,000 killed and widespread attacks on healthcare facilities, including a drone strike killing 64 at a hospital in East Darfur. The New Arab and France 24 echo the scale of displacement and hunger, noting that 70% of Sudan's population now lives in poverty, with food insecurity affecting 21 million. Reports from Save the Children and WHO detail the collapse of health services, with over 200 attacks on medical facilities and rising maternal mortality. Meanwhile, multiple sources including Reuters and AP News document escalating drone strikes targeting civilians and markets, worsening the crisis. The UN's humanitarian coordinator Denise Brown warns of an "abandoned crisis," urging more political action and funding. These accounts collectively reveal a complex conflict driven by internal power struggles, external arms flows, and a failing international response.
Go deeper
- What is causing the ongoing violence in Sudan?
- How is the international community responding to Sudan's crisis?
- What are the main humanitarian challenges facing Sudan today?
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Sudan - Country in North Africa
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United Nations - Intergovernmental organization
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