Sudan: Crisis deepens but attention wanes after two years of war

Worst protection crisis

Civilians are paying the highest price in this violent conflict - the world's worst protection crisis in decades. Despite agreed ceasefires and commitments by warring parties to abide by international humanitarian law, civilians remain at serious risk of attack. The collapse of law and order and related widespread criminality only increases the threat.

Women, children and vulnerable groups are bearing the brunt of the conflict. Reports abound of sexual violence, abuse and exploitation, with rape being widely used as a weapon of war, inflicting long-term physical, psychological and social harm on survivors. Many more of these incidents remain unreported.

In Sudan, hostilities around refugee camps and areas hosting displaced Sudanese pose grave risks to civilians including children, who are at acute risk of physical and psychological harm including death, injury and recruitment into armed forces.

In neighbouring countries where people are arriving, many have been exposed to gender-based violence, including rape. Although women and girls are disproportionally affected by sexual violence, boys and men are also reported to be among the survivors. Many families have been separated and arrive in distress. The levels of trauma are devastating, with families in shock after fleeing the horrors, still living in fear despite being in relative safety.

Access remains a challenge

Dwindling resources

The humanitarian response is challenging and costly. Two new countries, Libya and Uganda, have been incorporated into the regional refugee response, in addition to the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Yet resources to fully meet people's needs are grossly inadequate. In 2024, the Regional Refugee Response which appealed for $1.5 billion was only 31 per cent funded. So far in 2025, aid and development partners have only received 10 per cent of the $1.8 billion required for the regional response.

This shortage in funding meant many refugee families were forced to adopt harmful strategies to survive, such as selling household assets, cutting back on meals or withdrawing children from school to help fend for their families. Efforts to provide specialized support including medicine and counselling for survivors of gender-based violence are also being hampered, putting vulnerable people at further risk.

Nonetheless, UNHCR and partners continue to deliver, doing their best to provide protection and assistance and accompany refugees through the current uncertainty. Alongside aid, more development funding is needed to prevent host communities from buckling under the overwhelming number of new arrivals, and so those going home can rebuild.

Solutions amid the crisis

In Egypt, thousands of Sudanese refugees have been able to request registration appointments through an online platform, Digital Gateway, designed to help them access registration services in real-time. This avoids unnecessary delays and support is prioritized for the most vulnerable.

In Ethiopia and South Sudan, integrated settlements are enabling refugees to live side by side with host communities, access the same services such as schools, hospitals and markets, and thrive together economically.

Sudanese refugee farmers in South Sudan are registered in farmer groups and have received seeds and tools to cultivate. In return areas, returnees have also received tractors to plough the land for planting. Farming cooperatives can better harvest, do small-scale food processing and connect goods to markets thanks to start up kits they have received.

In Chad, large irrigation networks have been built to transform land, making it more suitable for agriculture for both refugees and host communities.

UNHCR works with the authorities and our development partners to make data about integrated settlements available. This data supports investment, development and management of the community.

But with the conflict inside Sudan showing no signs of ending, thousands of people still fleeing each day, and resources running dry, hope is ebbing away.

A political solution for peace in Sudan is needed now more than ever.