What is Happening in Sudan?
The current crisis began as a power struggle between two main factions: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the country's official army, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group. The two sides, formerly allies, turned on each other in a violent conflict that began in the capital, Khartoum, and has since spread across the country, particularly to the Darfur and Kordofan regions.
This is not a simple two-sided war. The conflict has drawn in multiple other armed actors, creating a complex and fragmented security landscape. The fighting has been characterised by intense urban warfare, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and widespread human rights violations. For the civilian population, the result has been a total breakdown of safety, order, and the basic functions of the state.
The Humanitarian Consequences
The impact on the civilian population has been catastrophic. The data, compiled by major UN agencies and international NGOs, illustrates the scale of the disaster:
Mass Displacement
The conflict has created the largest displacement crisis in the world. Over 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes since April 2023. Of these, more than 10 million are internally displaced within Sudan (IDPs), meaning they have not crossed an international border. This figure represents more than 20% of the country's entire population.
Severe Food Insecurity
The war has systematically dismantled the country's ability to feed itself. An estimated 24 million people - roughly half the population - are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. The situation is so severe that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the global authority on famine, has declared that Famine (IPC Phase 5) conditions are present in cities like Al Fasher and Kadugli. This is the most extreme warning, indicating that starvation and death are already occurring.
Total System Collapse
The conflict has decimated essential public services. According to the World Health Organisation, between 70-80% of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are no longer functioning. This has left millions without access to healthcare, leading to preventable deaths and the outbreak of diseases like cholera. The education system has also collapsed, with millions of children now out of school.
Islamic Help's Response
Navigating this challenging environment requires a careful and considered approach. Islamic Help is working with trusted, established partners on the ground to deliver life-saving aid. We are leveraging our international network, including our Türkiye office, to ensure aid can be delivered as effectively and transparently as possible to those who need it most.
Our focus is on providing immediate, life-sustaining support, including:
Emergency Food Parcels: To combat the growing threat of famine.
Clean Water: To prevent the spread of waterborne diseases like cholera.
Hygiene Kits: To provide families with the means to maintain their health and dignity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Where is Sudan?
Sudan is a large country located in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with seven countries, including Egypt to the north, Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, and Chad to the west.
2. Who is fighting in the conflict?
The primary conflict is between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which is the official national army, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful paramilitary group. However, many other local armed groups have also become involved, particularly in regions like Darfur.
3. Why did the conflict start?
The conflict is largely (but not solely) the result of a power struggle that erupted in April 2023. Tensions between the SAF and RSF, who were once allies in a transitional government, boiled over into open warfare as they vied for control of the country.
4. What is the IPC and what does “Famine” mean?
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is a global tool for classifying the severity of food crises. “Famine” (IPC Phase 5) is its most severe classification. It is a technical declaration made when a population has an extreme lack of food and other basic needs, and when specific thresholds for starvation, acute malnutrition, and death are met.
5. How many people have been displaced?
Over 12 million people have been displaced since the conflict began. This includes more than 10 million people displaced within Sudan’s borders (IDPs) and over 2 million who have fled to neighboring countries as refugees.
6. Are humanitarian organisations able to access those in need?
Access is extremely challenging. Active fighting, bureaucratic obstruction, and direct attacks on aid workers and supplies severely limit the ability of humanitarian organisations to reach all populations in need. This is a major factor contributing to the severity of the crisis.
7. What are the main health concerns?
With the majority of hospitals non-functional in conflict zones, the primary health concerns are the lack of treatment for injuries, the inability to manage chronic diseases, the collapse of maternal and child health services, and the outbreak of infectious diseases like cholera and measles due to a lack of clean water and vaccinations.
8. How has the conflict affected children?
Children are disproportionately affected. An estimated 15 million children require humanitarian aid. They face malnutrition, disease, trauma, and the loss of education as millions are out of school. They are also at high risk of being separated from their families and recruited by armed groups.
9. Why is it so difficult to get money and aid into Sudan?
The formal banking system has largely collapsed due to the conflict, making it extremely difficult and risky to transfer funds into the country through official channels. This is why we as Islamic Help use established international networks and partnerships to manage aid delivery.
10. How does a donation help in this context?
A donation enables our partners on the ground to procure and distribute essential, life-saving supplies locally. It provides immediate relief to families facing starvation and disease, funding items like food parcels, clean water, and hygiene kits that are critical for survival.
The Reality on the Ground
The situation in Sudan is not improving. As of November 2025, the conflict continues to intensify in key areas, with renewed fighting displacing tens of thousands more people in recent weeks alone. The famine declaration is not a warning of what might happen—it is a confirmation of what is already occurring. People are dying of starvation in areas where humanitarian access is blocked.
Children are succumbing to preventable diseases because there are no functioning health facilities. Families are sleeping in the open with no shelter, no food, and no clean water. The international humanitarian response remains critically underfunded, with the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan receiving only 25% of the required funding. Without a significant increase in international attention and resources, the death toll will continue to rise. This is not a crisis that will resolve itself, and the people of Sudan cannot wait.
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