Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: The Latest News

Since the outbreak of the unrest in April 2023, UNHCR estimates that more than 12.7 million people have been forcibly displaced, with more than 3 million forced to flee the country – this marks the crisis out as the most extensive internal displacement emergency in the world right now.

In this article, we’ll provide the very latest news and information available on the crisis as well as how you can help support our vital ongoing work in Sudan.

The Latest Update From Sudan

Within Sudan, the country remains in a very difficult situation at the moment. Food continues to be critically scarce, with over 18 million people facing acute food shortages, something no global response is currently able to address adequately. With major cuts to aid budgets, lifesaving services are being forced to scale back (some completely) in the most affected regions like Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan.

As a neighbouring country, Chad has seen the largest influx of Sudanese refugees with UNHCR reports indicating the number has surged from around 400,000 to over 1.2 million within the last two years – this is the equivalent of approximately 1,400 arrivals each day, a truly distressing figure which includes women, children and families. This has put incredible strain on existing resources and created an environment rife with hunger, thirst, illness and disease.

Furthermore, a devastating landslide hit Tarseen village in South Darfur state on the weekend of August 30th and 31st, killing at least 370 people with that figure set to grow to as many as 1,000 as the race to find survivors continues.

Those that have remained in Sudan now face the very real threat of cholera, a deadly waterborne disease which is spreading with devastating speed.

The Growing Cholera Threat

The presence of cholera in Sudan has already done irreparable damage to the Sudanese community, worsening an already fragile humanitarian landscape that has little chance of escaping the disease without external support.

Earlier this summer, UNHCR warned of the growing threat of cholera and highlighted the huge toll to human life over the last 12 months – since the outbreak was officially declared in August 2024, more than 94,000 cholera cases and over 2,370 deaths have been reported across 17 of Sudan’s 18 states. This tragedy is sadly ongoing, only being accelerated by the dire conditions facing internally displaced people that have no option but to remain in Sudan amidst the fighting.

The cholera outbreak has now reached a tipping point where it has extended into neighbouring nations like Chad, which we reported has already seen 264 confirmed cases with 12 cholera-linked deaths as of early August. Worsening conditions make a resolution to this sweeping outbreak challenging, with external aid absolutely critical for those in the worst affected regions.

New Calls For Urgent Action

The people of Sudan are facing the combined weight of conflict and disease alongside a reduction in available global aid, and infrastructure in the country has now reached the brink of a precipice. Action must be taken to give hope to those who remain in desperate need.

As of April, UNHCR teams warned that without reversing cuts, thousands of women and newborns face dangerous home births without appropriate medical care. On top of that, 8,500 displaced children could lose their access to schooling in the country, deepening the crisis further with generational impact.

External global resources continue to provide dedicated and committed staff who are working tirelessly to reverse these daunting odds. The aid being offered by UNHCR includes protection services and critical lifesaving assistance – but this response is sadly underfunded as things stand today.

We know that vital services remain at risk, all amidst the growing threat of cholera, famine and drought, so your help is crucial in supporting aid efforts.

The Sudan Crisis: Summary Stats

• Massive Displacement – over 12.7 million people internally displaced, with millions more refugees across nearby African nations.
• Food Crisis – 18 million people now at risk of acute food insecurity.
• Cholera Concern – more than 94,000 cases of cholera with over 2,370 deaths recorded in Sudan since August 2024, with the outbreak now spilling over into neighbouring Chad.
• Reduced Aid – Large funding cuts to critical services are reducing available support and costing lives.
• Ongoing Damage – Children are at risk of losing their education, damaging the hopes of future generations.

Despite the sheer scale of suffering in Sudan, this is not a crisis without hope. UNHCR has teams on the ground delivering lifesaving support every single day, providing shelter, clean water, medical care and protection for families who have lost everything. Yet with millions displaced, diseases like cholera spreading rapidly, natural disasters impacting thousands of lives, and critical services under threat from funding cuts, urgent action is needed.

We ask you to stand with us and with all Sudanese refugees – you can help support our efforts and give hope to women, children and men caught in one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian emergencies.

Will you help us respond? Your donation will help deliver critical support and aid to Sudanese people. Donate here.