Sudan
Women who fled Sudan after the outbreak of the civil war form a queue to receive food. [Reuters]
On April 15, 2023, Sudan erupted into a vicious civil war between rival factions of its military, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The two branches had allied in 2019 and 2021 to overthrow long-standing dictator Omar al-Bashir and the interim government that had replaced him. However, after attempts were made to integrate the RSF into the national army, RSF general Hamdan Dagalo launched a violent revolt. Since the fighting broke out, all attempts at brokering peace have been unsuccessful despite repeated attempts by the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the African Union, and many neighboring countries.
Sudanese soldiers accompany the governor of the Darfur region to port Sudan. [Foreign Policy]
With over 8.5 million people having fled from their homes and roughly 25 million in need of immediate assistance, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is one of the largest in the world. Additionally, Sudan’s infrastructure has been significantly damaged, and access to food and medicine has greatly decreased. Rates of dengue fever, malaria, and cholera are increasing, and up to 18 million people are facing acute hunger, 5 million of which are classified as emergency level hunger.
Sources: Council on Foreign Relations, International Rescue Committee, UN Migration, World Food Programme