Sudan
More people have been forced from their homes in Sudan than anywhere else on Earth.
In numbers
- people need humanitarian assistance in 2026
- 33.7 millionpeople need humanitarian assistance in 2026OCHA, Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2026, 30 Apr 2026
- people forcibly displaced, inside Sudan and across its borders
- 11.3 millionpeople forcibly displaced, inside Sudan and across its bordersUNHCR Sudan situation portal, 5 Oct 2026
- people, two in every five, facing crisis-level acute food insecurity or worse
- 19.5 millionpeople, two in every five, facing crisis-level acute food insecurity or worseFAO, WFP and UNICEF, citing the IPC, 15 May 2026
- of health facilities have stopped functioning
- 37%of health facilities have stopped functioningWHO, IPC Sudan alert, 12 Oct 2026
What is happening
The world’s largest displacement crisis: more than 11 million people forced from their homes, with famine conditions in parts of Darfur and Kordofan.
War between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces began in April 2023. Since then, fighting, attacks on civilians and drone strikes have driven millions from their homes. Sudan is now the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.
Hunger is extreme. Famine was confirmed in El Fasher and Kadugli in November 2025, and in October 2026 the IPC warned of a growing risk of famine across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, as drought covers more than half the country. WHO reports that 37% of health facilities have stopped functioning, and disease spreads quickly in crowded camps.
Aid is badly underfunded, and fighting often blocks aid trucks from reaching the people who need it most. Donations to agencies already working inside Sudan help most.
How it got here
- Apr 2023
War breaks out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
- Aug 2024
Famine is confirmed in Zamzam camp, North Darfur.
- Oct 2025
El Fasher, besieged for more than a year, falls to the RSF. Tens of thousands flee to Tawila and beyond.
- Nov 2025
The IPC confirms famine in El Fasher and Kadugli.
- Apr 2026
The UN plan finds 33.7 million people need humanitarian assistance this year.
- May 2026
Nearly 19.5 million people, two in every five, face crisis-level hunger or worse.
- Oct 2026
The IPC warns of a growing risk of famine in Darfur and Kordofan, as drought covers more than half the country.
Who is most affected
Displaced families
More than 11 million people have fled, many to crowded camps and host towns with little food or water.
Women and girls
UN agencies report widespread sexual violence and serious risks to women and girls.
Children
Millions of children are out of school and at risk of malnutrition and disease.
Where your donation helps in Sudan
These organisations are working in Sudan now. Any one of them is a good choice.
World Food Programme
Emergency food and nutrition
The world’s largest humanitarian organisation fighting hunger, delivering food and cash in crises.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
Emergency medical care in conflict zones
Independent medical humanitarian organisation running hospitals and clinics where needs are greatest.
Sudanese American Physicians Association
Medical care inside Sudan
Physician-led organisation supporting hospitals, clinics and medical supplies across Sudan.
More trusted organisations
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
Shelter and protection for refugees and displaced families
Protects people forced to flee, providing shelter, registration, cash help and essential supplies.
UNICEF
Children: nutrition, vaccines, water and schooling
The UN agency for children, treating malnutrition and providing safe water, health care and education.
International Rescue Committee
Health, safety and recovery for people affected by conflict
Helps people whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive and rebuild.
Islamic Relief Worldwide
Emergency relief, food and water
Faith-inspired relief and development charity working in more than 40 countries.
Already donated?
Questions about giving for Sudan
Why is it so hard to get aid into Sudan?
Fighting, sieges, restrictions and attacks on aid convoys block access to many areas. Agencies already working inside Sudan, with local staff and partners, are best placed to reach people.
Is Sudan really the largest displacement crisis?
Yes. OCHA describes Sudan as the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, and UNHCR counts more than 11 million people forcibly displaced inside and outside the country.
Where does my donation go?
The charities listed provide food, medical care, water and shelter inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries such as Chad, which hosts large numbers of Sudanese refugees.
Can’t donate right now?
Sharing reliable information still helps. Attention brings funding, and funding brings aid. More ways to help.
Keep reading
Sudan: drought and war push Darfur and Kordofan towards famine
The IPC warns the risk of famine is growing in Sudan, as drought covers more than half the country and children in some camps are past the famine threshold.
Read
From El Fasher to Tawila: inside the world's largest displacement crisis
More than 11 million Sudanese have been forced from their homes. The families who fled El Fasher show what that number means.
Read
Forced home: Afghanistan's returnees face drought, hunger and shrinking aid
More than 5 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since late 2023, many with nothing, to a country already facing record hunger.
ReadSources and live updates
- OCHA, Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2026 (30 Apr 2026)
- UNHCR Sudan situation data (5 Oct 2026)
- FAO, WFP and UNICEF, citing the IPC (15 May 2026)
- WHO, IPC Sudan alert (12 Oct 2026)
- OCHA Sudan (15 Oct 2026)
- IPC: Sudan food security analyses (12 Oct 2026)
Figures change quickly. We quote each number from the named source on the date shown and review these pages regularly. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.