Khartoum:  Sudan is facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises as the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) enters its third year. The United Nations reports that more than 30 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including nearly 15 million children, highlighting the devastating impact of the ongoing fighting.

Since the conflict began in April 2023, approximately 9.6 million people have been displaced, with many regions, particularly Darfur and Kordofan, cut off from humanitarian aid. Cities like El Fasher, a key stronghold in Darfur, have been under siege for more than 18 months, leaving civilians trapped amid repeated attacks, severe hunger, and limited access to medical care. Thousands of children have been killed or injured in attacks on displacement centers, where families had sought refuge, with many trapped in burning structures or crushed by collapsed buildings. Around 130,000 children remain in desperate conditions in El Fasher alone.

Food insecurity has reached alarming levels, with over 24 million people facing acute hunger, and famine conditions declared in some areas. Malnutrition is particularly severe among children, with an estimated 3.2 million under the age of five projected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2025, including 770,000 at risk of severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form. Recurrent disease outbreaks, including measles and malaria, are affecting large numbers of children, while routine immunization rates have fallen sharply, leaving one in six children unprotected.

Education has also been heavily disrupted, with 14 million school-aged children currently out of school. Many schools have been destroyed, occupied by armed groups, or converted into shelters for displaced families, depriving children of safe learning environments. Even before the conflict, one in three children were unable to access quality education or were dropping out. While schools have partially reopened in some areas, millions of children remain out of school, threatening their future prospects.

Healthcare infrastructure has collapsed in many parts of Sudan, compounding the humanitarian crisis. The 2024–2025 cholera epidemic affected over 462,000 people, claiming nearly 6,000 lives. The epidemic has been worsened by the conflict, which has disrupted access to clean water and sanitation. Additionally, outbreaks of diseases such as dengue fever continue to strain hospitals, which are only able to provide basic treatments amid severe shortages of resources.

Humanitarian organizations are calling for immediate international support to address the escalating needs. The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan, which requires $4.2 billion, has so far received only 25 percent of the funding needed, putting life-saving aid at risk. Without urgent action, the humanitarian crisis could deteriorate further, endangering millions of children and vulnerable populations. The international community is urged to prioritize humanitarian assistance and work toward a peaceful resolution to the conflict to prevent further suffering and loss of life.