Mahmoud, a 13-year-old Sudanese orphan with a toothless grin, dreams of rebuilding his war-torn country. Despite being displaced twice and enduring unimaginable hardships, Mahmoud remains one of nearly five million Sudanese children struggling to survive in what the United Nations now calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Sudan's conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has plunged the country into chaos, displacing 11 million people and pushing millions to the brink of starvation. Entire communities subsist in famine-like conditions, with little hope of respite as the conflict continues to devastate the nation.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s new humanitarian chief, recently visited Sudan to highlight the dire situation. “Twenty-five million Sudanese, more than half the country, need help now,” he said, stressing the global neglect of Sudan amid other crises like those in Gaza and Ukraine. Fletcher described Sudan as “an invisible crisis” despite the staggering scale of suffering.
Fletcher’s mission took him to the Maygoma orphanage in Kassala, where nearly 100 children live in a crumbling former school. Many, like Mahmoud, fled Khartoum when violence engulfed the capital, seeking safety in central Sudan before being displaced again by fighting in Wad Madani.
When asked about his aspirations, Mahmoud’s reply was both heartbreaking and hopeful: “I want to be a state governor so I can be in charge and rebuild destroyed homes.”
The UN and other aid agencies face immense challenges in reaching those most in need. Recent agreements have allowed the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver aid to areas controlled by the RSF, including the Zamzam camp in Darfur, where famine has been declared. However, navigating Sudan's fractured power structures remains a daunting task.
"Gen Burhan and his authorities control checkpoints and access systems," Fletcher explained. "If we want to go into those areas, we need to deal with them."
Despite the obstacles, Fletcher vowed to continue pressing both warring factions to prioritize humanitarian needs. "I’ll go anywhere, talk to anyone, to get this aid through, and to save lives," he said.
As the war drags on, starvation is not the only weapon wielded against civilians. Sexual violence has reached epidemic levels, with women and children bearing the brunt of the atrocities.
The UN’s visit coincided with the global "16 Days of Activism" campaign against gender-based violence. In a poignant event at a displaced persons camp in Port Sudan, Fletcher urged the international community to do more.
"We have to do better, we must do better," he declared, addressing Sudanese women and children who have suffered immeasurable trauma.
Amid the devastation, Sudanese communities are doing their best to support each other. In Kassala, a small shelter called Shamaa, or "Candle," provides refuge for abused women and orphaned children. Its founder, Nour Hussein al-Sewaty—herself a former orphan—fled Khartoum to protect those in her care.
Even the indomitable Nour, known as Mama Nour, admits to feeling overwhelmed. "We are so exhausted. We need help," she said. "We want to feel there are still people in the world who care about us."
As Sudan grapples with its worst humanitarian crisis, voices like Mahmoud’s offer a glimmer of hope and a stark reminder of the resilience of those enduring the unthinkable. For the millions displaced and struggling to survive, the dream of returning home and rebuilding remains the ultimate aspiration.
In the words of Romissa, a local aid worker, “This is the time for the Sudanese people to stand together.” But to stand, they need the world’s support now more than ever.