As Sudan nears the third anniversary of its ongoing conflict, the country faces a worsening humanitarian crisis marked by widespread displacement, collapsing health infrastructure, and alarming levels of malnutrition. The conflict, which erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, has displaced more than 12 million people and left approximately 34 million—nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population—in need of humanitarian aid.

Humanitarian organizations and survivors report that the crisis has taken a severe toll on civilians across the country. Families are contending with persistent violence, limited access to food and clean water, and acute shortages of essential medical services amid recurrent waves of displacement. The situation is especially dire in the Darfur region, where protection for civilians has largely collapsed.

Ali Almohammed, emergency health manager with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), emphasized the scale and severity of the crisis. He described a context where the destruction of health services, high displacement rates, and unmet medical and humanitarian needs have exacerbated the vulnerabilities faced by the population. Women and children remain among the most at risk, confronting elevated threats from disease, malnutrition, and violence.

Reports from MSF highlight that risks to women and girls persist even after they flee conflict zones. Insecurity continues on roads, in markets, agricultural fields, and within displacement camps—even in areas where active fighting has shifted elsewhere. A recent MSF report cites a survivor from Jebel Marra who described frequent instances of sexual violence, occurring regularly during everyday activities such as visiting markets or farming.

The organization underscored the urgent need for confidential clinical care to address survivors’ injuries, emergency contraception, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, and child protection services. Strengthening referral pathways for these services remains a critical priority amid the deteriorating humanitarian landscape.

As the conflict extends into its third year, humanitarian actors are appealing for increased international support to scale up life-saving assistance and enhance civilian protection. Without swift and substantial intervention, aid agencies warn, the crisis in Sudan threatens to deepen further, with catastrophic consequences for millions of vulnerable people across the country.