Sudan humanitarian crisis: When roads become impassable, help cannot wait

South Kordofan, a southern state along the border with South Sudan, remains among the states hardest hit by Sudan's humanitarian crisis. Conflict, mass displacement, and blocked access to aid have worn the region down.

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and affiliated armed groups has intensified across parts of the state, especially around Kadugli, the state capital, and Dilling.

South Kordofan hosts an estimated 385,850 internally displaced persons, according to the International Organisation for Migration. The renewed escalation of conflict in the region has triggered more than 219,000 new displacements across the three states, with South Kordofan absorbing a significant share of them.

"Humanitarian needs are immense, and we are doing our best to support vast numbers of struggling people in South Kordofan with food, access to health, and WASH [water, sanitation, and hygiene] services, cash assistance, and enabling under-resourced families to access livelihood opportunities despite the huge operational and security challenges," said Yousif Abdelhakam from the CARE Sudan office.

Cash assistance becomes a lifeline

Hawa lives with her family in Abu Noura village, in South Kordofan - one of Sudan's states - about 31 miles from the town of Abu Jubayhah. Getting there isn't easy.

Hawa is struggling to feed her family. Food prices have skyrocketed during the lean season, and the sweltering heat signals the rains are close behind. She hopes she can get assistance in time to plant her small farm and buy food for her family.

CARE Sudan selected Hawa's village for cash assistance to buy seeds and tools they need to cultivate food for their families and get income. However, delivering assistance, including cash, is a tough task in the remote areas of South Kordofan, especially during the rainy season when roads become impassable.

"Sometimes, when our 4×4 vehicle gets stuck in the mud and we spend hours pulling it out, we think of giving up, but when we remember the people waiting for us, we find more courage to push hard to move the vehicle out," said Amna Gareeg, a cash team volunteer with CARE.

Multipurpose cash assistance in South Kordofan also supports villagers who lack access to work, health services, and clean water. Without proper sanitation facilities, many face serious health hazards from open defecation, especially during the rainy season.

Support for women farmers

CARE Sudan supports 16 women farmers' groups in the area - 30 members each - with improved groundnut and sorghum seeds and agricultural tools.

South Kordofan contains some of Sudan's most food-insecure populations. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report and a more recent IPC analysis point to the same concern: the risk of famine remains serious in the state, particularly around Kadugli and Dilling, as conflict, restricted humanitarian access, and disrupted food and livelihood systems compound one another.

"Our support to women farmers in South Kordofan includes technical training on improved cultivation technologies. We continue monitoring their progress in deep cultivation fields despite the huge challenges posed by poor road infrastructure," said Shukrey Omer from the CARE livelihoods team.

Through Farmer Field and Business School (FFBS) training sessions on demonstration plots, CARE teams continue working with women farmers throughout the season to strengthen their farming knowledge and skills.

Through the various Women's Savings Groups, CARE helps women share knowledge and strengthen their financial and farming skills. Some now grow more food for their families. Others sell their surplus for extra income. All of it adds up to more resilience against the next shock.

"Receiving seeds, tools, and technical support was a turning point in my life. I feel valued as I can produce some of the food we eat and get some income to support my extended family," said Fatima, a member of the women farmers' groups in Rashad locality, South Kordofan.

Rebuilding a bridge to markets and life

South Kordofan is known for its large agricultural production, especially fruits, groundnuts, and sorghum. But farmers and traders often can't reach markets or their own fields - poor roads make sure of that, especially once the rains come.

To help them in the hard-to-reach areas of Alabassiya, CARE rehabilitated a bridge that had originally been built from local materials, reconstructing it with concrete for greater durability.

"The old bridge was difficult to cross, especially during the rainy season, and many children and women lost their lives trying to do that. Now it is easy to cross and access markets and hospitals without fear; this has made the lives of more people living in more than 13 villages easy and safe," said Hosna, 36, a woman farmer from Alabassiya.

The new bridge is already paying off. Trade is picking up, short-term jobs opened up during construction, and people can reach clinics and markets they once had to risk their lives to cross.

Funding shortfalls deepen

Sudan's humanitarian response is facing a critical funding gap just as needs are climbing to levels not seen in years, especially in food-insecure areas like South Kordofan.

The 2026 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requires £2.10 billion to aid people in need across the country. As of August 2026, only around £860.21 million - less than 50% of the required funding (40.9%) - had been received.

This shortfall is already forcing humanitarian organisations to make hard choices about which life-saving services survive. Millions of people are left facing hunger, displacement, disease, and a lack of access to basic services.

"Aid workers in South Kordofan continue to serve some of the most at-risk communities despite extremely challenging conditions, particularly during the rainy season when poor road infrastructure severely restricts access," said Hussein Araban, CARE Sudan deputy country director. As humanitarian needs continue to grow, Araban said, CARE calls on donors to provide urgent and flexible funding to ensure life-saving assistance reaches those who need it most and to prevent further deterioration of an already critical situation.