Saudi Arabia has been a steadfast supporter of Sudan’s security and stability, spearheading peace endeavors and humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the brotherly Sudanese people.
The conflict in Sudan, which broke out in April 2023, has killed at least 59,000 people and left around 11,000 people missing, in addition to displacing 14 million people amid famine and cholera outbreaks, triggering what the UN labeled as “the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis.”
In line with its role as the premier anchor of humanitarian stability, Riyadh has reinforced its commitment to the Sudanese people through multi-billion dollar relief efforts, emerging as the first responder to the Sudan crisis on a global scale.
The $3 Billion Lifeline
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry declared in a statement that the Kingdom’s total financial, economic, and emergency support for Sudan has surpassed $3.2 billion.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sustained humanitarian support for the brotherly Sudanese people. pic.twitter.com/G2Rco1dI2C
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) July 5, 2026
The Breakdown: The Saudi aid covers 359 projects across various humanitarian and developmental sectors. These include budget support, education, water and sanitation, health, food security, industry and mining, financial and banking services, agriculture, and energy.
KSrelief as an Operational Arm
The Big Picture: As the humanitarian arm of the Kingdom, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has spearheaded humanitarian operations in Sudan. It has delivered medical supplies, emergency shelter, and multi-phased food security programs to millions of displaced families and vulnerable communities across various Sudanese states.
According to its latest data, KSrelief’s humanitarian and relief support for Sudan has totaled $190.63 million across 276 projects, with food security and health taking the lion’s share of that aid.
Jeddah Logistical Hub
Saudi Arabia has utilized its robust logistics assets to channel humanitarian aid to Sudan, transforming Jeddah into a key logistical hub for facilitating aid operations in Sudan, given its strategic location one hour away from Port Sudan.
These efforts include launching relief vessels from the Jeddah Islamic Port, as well as aid flights from the city’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, directly to Port Sudan.
In May 2026, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) began operating its RED aircraft from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to accelerate humanitarian access to Sudan.
Why It Matters: The conflict in Sudan has driven around 20 million people – accounting for 41% of the population – into high levels of acute food insecurity.
According to a report by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), 14 areas across North Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan remain at risk of famine if fighting intensifies.
These include El-Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur state, and Kadugli, the capital city of South Kordofan state. Both cities endured months-long sieges by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with conditions expected to worsen further during the lean season, from June to September.
Furthermore, the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East amid the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz compounded the crisis, sparking a surge in the prices of food, fuel and fertilizers.
‘Sudan Madad’ Initiative
As the humanitarian crisis deepened in Sudan, KSrelief launched the “Sudan Madad” project in March 2026. Kicked off in the city of Kadugli in South Kordofan, the “Sudan Madad” is a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity in multiple vulnerable regions.
State of Play: The “Sudan Madad” project distributes thousands of essential food baskets to displaced families and returnees in conflict-impacted regions, such as North Kordofan, Khartoum, and the Blue Nile State.
Unwavering Commitment
The humanitarian efforts align with Saudi Arabia’s broader diplomatic push to bring the conflict to an end and alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Sudanese people.
The Big Picture: Saudi Arabia has spearheaded peace efforts to achieve security and stability in Sudan and preserve the country’s unity and legitimate institutions, in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
State of Play: The Kingdom has advocated for a Sudanese-Sudanese political solution based on respecting Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity and supporting the state institutions.
It has also made extensive efforts to resume political dialogue under the Jeddah Declaration, and the subsequent Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire, signed in May 2023 between the warring parties, in a bid to resolve the deepening humanitarian crisis and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
What’s New: In a recent UN Security session in New York, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil, reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to stability in Sudan, stressing that any resolution to the crisis requires a Sudanese-led political solution.
Moreover, he reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to securing a ceasefire and bringing the Sudanese parties together to resume political dialogue based on the Jeddah Declaration.
