What's happened
As of mid-November 2025, Sudan faces a severe humanitarian crisis amid ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Famine has been confirmed in the cities of el-Fasher and Kadugli, with over 21 million people experiencing acute food insecurity and nearly 375,000 in famine conditions. Fighting in Darfur and Kordofan has displaced tens of thousands, with reports of mass civilian deaths and blocked humanitarian aid.
What's behind the headline?
Humanitarian Catastrophe Deepens
The confirmation of famine in el-Fasher and Kadugli marks a grim escalation in Sudan's ongoing crisis. The conflict has not only devastated livelihoods but also obstructed humanitarian access, exacerbating starvation and malnutrition. Aid funding has sharply declined, with the International Organization for Migration's 2025 appeal less than 10% funded, severely limiting relief efforts.
Conflict Dynamics and Civilian Impact
The RSF's capture of el-Fasher after an 18-month siege and subsequent attacks in Kordofan have intensified civilian suffering, including mass killings and displacement. Satellite imagery and reports of mass graves suggest attempts to conceal atrocities. The fighting's ethnic dimensions and targeting of aid sites deepen the crisis.
Political and Regional Implications
The war has fractured Sudan geographically and politically, with the army controlling central regions and the RSF dominating Darfur and parts of Kordofan. This division complicates peace efforts and humanitarian access, risking further destabilization.
Forecast and Consequences
Without a ceasefire and significant aid scale-up, famine and displacement will worsen, potentially pushing millions closer to starvation. The international community's reduced aid budgets and bureaucratic hurdles threaten to prolong the crisis. The conflict's continuation will likely fuel regional instability, refugee flows, and global humanitarian challenges.
Relevance to the Reader
While geographically distant, the Sudan crisis highlights the consequences of protracted conflict on civilian populations and the critical importance of sustained international aid. It underscores the need for global attention to humanitarian funding and conflict resolution to prevent further loss of life.
What the papers say
The New Arab highlights the scale of displacement, noting "12.5 million Sudanese were displaced within and outside the country as of mid-October," with aid funding at less than 10% of the appeal, underscoring the dire shortage of resources. The International Organization for Migration's head, Pope, emphasized the insufficiency of aid, stating, "The first response is simply insufficient to meet needs."
Multiple sources including AP News and The Independent report on the RSF's capture of el-Fasher and the resulting atrocities, with the Sudan Doctors Network accusing the RSF of "a desperate attempt to conceal evidence of their crimes against civilians" through mass graves and burning bodies. Satellite images analyzed by Yale's Humanitarian Research Lab corroborate these claims, showing "burning of objects that may be consistent with bodies."
The Japan Times and All Africa detail the confirmation of famine by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) in el-Fasher and Kadugli, describing "a total collapse of livelihoods, starvation, extremely high levels of malnutrition and death." The IPC report notes that over 21 million people face acute food insecurity, with 375,000 in famine conditions.
Reuters provides context on the siege conditions, with residents forced to eat animal feed and hide, and community kitchens targeted by drone attacks. The IPC's findings have drawn criticism from Sudan's government, reflecting the political tensions surrounding the crisis.
Together, these sources paint a comprehensive picture of a multifaceted crisis involving armed conflict, humanitarian collapse, and political complexity, with urgent calls for ceasefire and aid access.
How we got here
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF, originally allies overseeing a democratic transition after the 2019 uprising. The war has caused widespread displacement, ethnic violence, and severe food insecurity, with key regions like Darfur and Kordofan becoming epicenters of fighting and famine.
Go deeper
- What is causing the famine in Sudan?
- How is the conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF evolving?
- What are the humanitarian aid challenges in Sudan?
Common question
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What’s the Latest on Global Crises and Conflicts?
With ongoing conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza, understanding the current crises is more important than ever. From famine and violence in Darfur to intense battles over strategic cities in Ukraine, these stories shape our world today. Here are the key questions and answers to keep you informed about the latest developments in these critical regions.
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What’s Causing the Famine and Conflict in Sudan’s El-Fasher and Kadugli?
Sudan is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with famine declared in key cities like El-Fasher and Kadugli. Ongoing fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese army has devastated communities, hampered aid efforts, and led to widespread hunger and displacement. Many are asking what’s behind this crisis, how it’s affecting civilians, and what can be done to bring peace. Below, we answer some of the most common questions about the conflict and humanitarian situation in Sudan.
More on these topics
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Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe
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The Rapid Support Forces are Sudanese paramilitary forces operated by the Sudanese Government. The RSF grew out of, and is primarily composed of, the Janjaweed militias which fought on behalf of the Sudanese government during the War in Darfur, killing an
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.
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The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, also known as IPC scale, is a tool for improving food security analysis and decision-making.
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The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency's governing structure and principles, states its main objective as "the attainment
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Al-Fashir (also alternatively rendered as El Fasher; Arabic: الفاشر, romanized: al-Fāshir) is a city in western Sudan. It serves as the capital of the North Darfur State and is located in the Darfur region of Sudan, and is 195 kilometres (121 mi) n