The Forgotten Conflict: Sudan War Enters 4th Year as World’s Largest Humanitarian Crisis

As the war in Sudan entered its fourth year on Wednesday, humanitarian agencies lament the lack of global attention to the conflict that has caused the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis.

On April 15, 2023, a fierce conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killing thousands of people, displacing millions and pushing parts of the country into famine amid cholera outbreaks.

The Abandoned Crisis           

As the war entered its fourth year, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher raised alarm about the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan and the world’s failure to end the suffering of the Sudanese people.

“This grim and chastening anniversary marks another year when the world has failed to meet the test of Sudan,” he said in a statement.

“Nearly 34 million people – or almost two out of every three people – need humanitarian support: the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Hunger is tightening its grip as the lean season closes in. Hundreds of thousands of children are acutely malnourished, with millions being deprived of an education. Women and girls are facing systemic and brutal sexual violence,” he noted.

He warned that the “risk of wider regional instability is high,” urging immediate action. “We need action now – to stop the violence, protect civilians, ensure access to communities in greatest danger, and fund the response,” Fletcher said.

Meanwhile, the top UN official in Sudan, Denise Brown, called on the international community to focus on ending the conflict. “A plea from me: Please don’t call this the forgotten crisis. I’m referring to this as an abandoned crisis,” she said.

War Crimes

According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), at least 59,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict. Aid groups suggest that the death toll could be higher due to limited access to areas of fighting.

Moreover, around 11,000 people remain missing, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Importantly, a UN-backed probe concluded that the RSF’s capture of El-Fasher city in Sudan’s Darfur show “hallmarks of genocide” against non-Arab communities.

Similarly, a report published by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) concluded that the RSF committed “widespread atrocities that amount to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity” during its takeover of El-Fasher.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) also concluded in early 2026 that the RSF committed systematic war crimes and crimes against humanity during an “appalling” campaign across Darfur.

Displacement Catastrophe

The conflict in Sudan has forced millions of people to flee their homes, triggering the world’s largest displacement crisis. According to the UN data, 14 million Sudanese have been displaced.

Around nine million people remain displaced inside Sudan, while 4.4 million crossed the borders to neighboring countries, such as Egypt, Chad and South Sudan, putting these nations “at breaking point,” according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

Furthermore, the UN Migration Agency (IOM) noted that even as 4 million people have begun returning to their home regions, they face “broken water systems, destruction, and a lack of basic shelter and healthcare.”

Widespread Famine

The World Food Program (WFP) warned that the war in Sudan has left about 34 million people in need of aid, with nearly two in five struggle with acute or worse food insecurity. It said that more than 19 million people are facing acute hunger as famine continues to spread across Sudan.

In November 2025, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared famine in El-Fasher and Kadugli in South Kordofan. It also warned in early 2026 that famine was spreading across the Darfur region and threatens the greater Kordofan region.

“Here in Sudan, hunger and violence are reinforcing each other in a vicious cycle of desperation. The conflict has ravaged livelihoods, uprooted communities and driven millions of people into hunger,” WFP Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau said.

“Millions of Sudanese are trapped in a daily struggle to secure food safety, basic dignity. Families have exhausted every coping mechanism. Parents are skipping meals so the children can eat—and children are going hungry,” WFP Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response Ross Smith said.

Children at Risk

The war is inflicting a heavy price on children, who endure malnourishment and lack of proper care and education. According to UNICEF, more than 4,300 children have been killed or maimed during the war and more than 5,700 grave violations against children have been recorded.

Moreover, the conflict has deprived over 8 million children – nearly half of Sudan’s 17 million school-aged children – from education amid the longest school shutdown, according to Save the Children.

During the war, 11% of schools have turned into shelters for displaced people or are being used by warring sides, UNICEF said.

Violence against Women

Women have been a target for systematic sexual violence during the war. A recent report issued by UN Women revealed that 12.7 million people – mainly women and girls – require support related to sexual and gender-based violence, up from 3.1 million in 2023.

“As we enter a fourth year of war in Sudan, it is important that we be clear about what this means for women and girls, because ultimately, this is a war on them,” Regional Director for East and Southern Africa Anna Mutavati said.

She added that “widespread killings, mass displacement, and most definingly the use of sexual violence…is embedded in the blueprint of Sudan’s war.

In March 2026, a report by medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) concluded that the RSF uses sexual violence as a weapon of war and a systematic means of controlling civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law.

Health Disaster

The war has taken many healthcare facilities out of service. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) said that only 63% of Sudan’s health facilities remain fully or partially functional. The country also suffers disease outbreaks, including cholera.

Additionally, 217 attacks have targeted health facilities since the beginning of the war.

Regional Impact

The crisis in Sudan is further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The US-Israeli war with Iran and the ensuing disruption of shipping have increased fuel prices in Sudan by more than 24%, driving up the costs of fertilizers, food and stable goods.

In light of this, WFP’s Ross Smith the overall crisis in Sudan “is being dangerously compounded by the wider global instability and the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East.”

Foreign Interference

Foreign powers have been meddling in the conflict by supplying weapons to the warring parties. The UAE, in particular, has faced strong criticism from the Sudanese government and right groups amid mounting accusations of supplying the RSF with weapons, mercenaries and political backing – allegations that Abu Dhabi has consistently denied.

The UAE is part of the Quad mechanism – a group involving Saudi Arabia, the US, Egypt and the UAE aimed at supporting peace efforts in Sudan.

Against the backdrop of intervention allegations, SAF commander Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan said that the Sudanese government no longer recognizes the Quad due to the presence of the UAE, rejecting their roadmap for peace and proposing a peace initiative to the UN.

Despite this, Al-Burhan reiterated his confidence in Saudi Arabia and Egypt as trusted mediators who could play a constructive role to bring peace to Sudan.