Sudan's War Enters Fourth Year Amid Deepening Crisis

Sudan's civil war has entered its fourth year, with millions of people surviving on just one meal a day as the humanitarian crisis deepens. The conflict began on April 15, 2023, stemming from a power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (SAF) and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo 'Hemedti' (RSF), who previously cooperated in a military coup in October 2021. The war has displaced approximately 14 million people, a quarter of Sudan's population, with about 4.4 million fleeing to neighboring countries like Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt.

The ongoing violence has exacerbated the food crisis, with families in North Darfur and South Kordofan often going days without meals. According to a report by Action Against Hunger, CARE International, International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, many have resorted to eating leaves and animal feed to survive. The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification found that famine thresholds for acute malnutrition have been surpassed in Um Baru and Kernoi, with child malnutrition rates nearly double the famine threshold.

The conflict has also severely impacted healthcare services, with up to 80% of health facilities in conflict zones becoming nonoperational. The maternal death rate has increased by more than 12%, from 263 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022 to 295 per 100,000 in 2025. The World Health Organization has verified over 200 attacks on health facilities, resulting in more than 2,000 deaths. In March, a drone attack on al-Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur killed at least 64 people and rendered the hospital nonfunctional.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reports over 11,000 cases of missing persons in Sudan, a 40% increase from last year. The true number is believed to be much higher as investigators attempt to track down civilians reported missing or forcibly disappeared since the war began.

A recent international conference in Berlin raised $1.77 billion in humanitarian aid for Sudan, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera. However, despite this significant funding, the conflict shows no signs of abating. The UK announced an additional $15 million in aid, but only 16% of the needed humanitarian funding has been provided by the international community.

The war has pushed parts of Sudan into famine, with the number of people experiencing severe acute malnutrition expected to increase to 800,000. The conflict has also led to widespread atrocities including mass killings and rampant sexual violence. Hospitals, ambulances, and medical workers have been attacked, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The Sudanese government in Khartoum criticized an international conference held in Berlin aimed at rallying humanitarian donors and promoting a ceasefire, calling it 'unacceptable' interference. The conflict has resulted in a de facto division of the country between military-backed and RSF-controlled regions, with both sides unable to achieve a decisive victory.