Southern and Eastern Africa

Sudan

Sudan
Al-Sayed, 70, fled armed violence in Aj Jazirah State, Sudan, carried by his children on their shoulders for 40 hours due to his inability to walk. Now at the El Salamabi reception center in Gedaref State, the family is receiving emergency assistance. Photo: OCHA/Yao Chen
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Since April 2023, Sudan has faced an unprecedented humanitarian crisis driven by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Civilians continue to bear the brunt of violence, with nearly 9 million people displaced internally, making Sudan the world's largest internal displacement crisis. An additional over 3 million people have fled to neighbouring countries.

Nearly two thirds of Sudan’s population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including 16 million children. Acute food insecurity has reached historic levels, with famine conditions confirmed in various parts of the country and millions at risk of starvation. Meanwhile, disease outbreaks are compounding the crisis, alongside worsening climate shocks.

Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, facing heightened risks of conflict-related sexual violence. More than 12.1 million people require specialized services. Despite humanitarian efforts reaching many areas, severe access constraints, particularly in active conflict zones, and funding constraints continue to hinder aid delivery where it is needed most.

The humanitarian outlook for Sudan in 2025 remains bleak. The crisis is further exacerbated by the alarming rise in severe and extreme needs.

The most critical areas of need are concentrated in South Darfur, Aj Jazirah, Khartoum and North Darfur states, where 11.4 million people require urgent assistance, with 2.3 million facing catastrophic levels of need.

The crisis is exacerbated by continued conflict, economic collapse, accelerating inflation and the impacts of climate change, all of which are driving widespread displacement, inter-communal violence and deteriorating access to basic services. Urgent and sustained humanitarian intervention will be essential to alleviate the suffering of millions of people in Sudan.

Humanitarian partners require US$4.2 billion in 2025 to deliver life-saving aid to 20.9 million of the most vulnerable people in Sudan. This funding will support efforts to tackle food insecurity, scale up protection services, restore basic services and address other acute needs across the country.

The response plan prioritizes regions most affected by conflict and displacement, including Darfur, Kordofan and Khartoum, and aims to ensure unhindered access for humanitarian workers and supplies.

It includes activities to protect civilians, prevent human rights violations and ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, particularly in the hardest-hit conflict zones. 

With millions facing extreme deprivation, displacement and violence, the humanitarian response is essential to alleviating suffering and preventing further deterioration. However, securing sufficient funding and overcoming access challenges are crucial to meeting the escalating needs in Sudan.

Overview of the humanitarian response in Sudan

For a full overview of the humanitarian response, visit humanitarianaction.info
People in need
30.4M 2025
People to be covered by assistance
20.9M 2025
Funding total (USD)
1.9B 2024
Funding gap (USD)
813.5M 2024
Funding gap (USD)
3.6B 2025
Funding coverage (%)
13.22 2025

Top 5 donors

United States of America, Government of
$184.9 million
World Bank
$85 million
European Commission
$44 million
Canada, Government of
$35.2 million
Germany, Government of
$32.7 million

Top 5 funded sectors

Food Security and Livelihoods
$272.1 million
Not specified
$90.3 million
Health
$25.3 million
Protection
$23 million
Nutrition
$14 million

The Sudan Humanitarian Fund

The Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) which was established in 2006, is a rapid and flexible funding mechanism supporting national and international non-governmental organizations and UN agencies, to respond to the most pressing or critical emergencies in a fast-changing environment. Under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, the SHF supports the timely allocation and disbursement of donor resources to the most critical humanitarian needs defined in the Sudan Humanitarian Needs Response Plan.

Top 5 donors

United Kingdom
$12.9 million (paid)
Germany
$9.2 million (paid)
Canada
$4.3 million (paid)
European Commission
$6.8 million (pledged)
Netherlands
$5.3 million (paid)

Resources

Sudan + 1 more

Infographic

Sudan: Adre Border Crossing Snapshot (May 2025)

OVERVIEW The Adre border crossing — the most direct and efficient route for aid to reach millions of people in Darfur — serves as a critical lifeline for the timely delivery of life-saving assistance...

Originally published
Source
  • UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Read more

Sudan

Infographic

Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (April 2025)

HIGHLIGHTS Humanitarian access in Sudan deteriorated significantly due to intensified conflict, threats to aid workers, damage to critical infrastructure and growing bureaucratic impediments —...

Originally published
Source
  • UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Read more

Sudan

News and Press Release

Adapting health care to a displacement crisis

Sudan | 2024 | CBPF Sudan, Kassala. Sara was pregnant and suffering from cholera when she left Aj Jazirah state for Kassala, a gruelling and dangerous journey for anyone. After more than 20 months of...

Originally published
Source
  • UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Read more

Sudan

News and Press Release

Port Sudan drone attacks: A call to protect civilian infrastructure - Statement by the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami

(Port Sudan, 6 May 2025) I am shocked and deeply concerned by intensifying drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in Port Sudan, the main humanitarian hub within Sudan. In the early morning hours...

Originally published
Sources
  • UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
  • UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan
Read more

Funding for OCHA Sudan

Total requirements (USD)
15.4M 2025
Opening balance (USD)
0 2025
Earmarked funding (USD)
4.2M 2025
Total (USD)
4.2M 2025

Earmarked contributions

Canada
$0.4 million
Estonia
$0.1 million
Germany
$2.1 million
Japan
$0.3 million
Saudi Arabia
$0.5 million
Sweden
$0.8 million

Unearmarked contributions

  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • Germany
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Luxembourg
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Singapore
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom

Unearmarked contributions (or commitments) are those for which the donor does not require the funds to be used for a specific project, sector, crisis or country, leaving OCHA to decide how to allocate the funds.

Opening balance may include unearmarked and earmarked funding with implementation dates beyond the calendar year, and excludes miscellaneous income (e.g. adjustments, gain/losses on exchange rate etc.)

Funding information from the OCHA Contributions Tracking System.