Rhino: Agencies – The Sudanese Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO) warned of an imminent humanitarian disaster in the states of Darfur, Kordofan and areas controlled by the Popular Movement – Northern Sector and launched an urgent appeal to United Nations agencies and international humanitarian organizations to save the critical humanitarian situation in those areas.
The following is the text of the appeal:
Sudan is facing one of the most severe humanitarian disasters in its modern history. As the conflict enters its second year since its outbreak in April 2023, the humanitarian situation in our country is experiencing a sharp and accelerating deterioration, a widespread collapse in basic services, and an unprecedented deterioration that threatens the lives of millions of civilians, leaving a total destruction of the social fabric and basic services.
By 2025, more than 30.4 million people – more than half of the country’s population – are in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian assistance, including 16 million children who are the present and the future. A summary of the catastrophic humanitarian situation: 14.3 million non-host population (47%) 8.9 million IDPs (29%) 6.4 million host communities (21%) 890,000 refugees (3%)
More than 50% of those affected are children, and 50% are women and girls. Acute food insecurity has more than tripled since the beginning of the conflict and now threatens most of the population. De facto famine has been confirmed and documented in parts of Sudan, particularly North Darfur, while millions are at risk of imminent famine in Darfur, Kordofan, and Khartoum states.
Since April 2023, more than 12 million people have been displaced – including 8.8 million inside Sudan and more than 3.2 million who have crossed into neighboring countries – becoming one of the largest displacement crises in the world in less than two years. The war has had a catastrophic impact on children, with 24 million children affected and 17 million out of school, signaling a generational catastrophe.
Rates of gender-based violence have increased by 80% from the previous year, with more than 12.2 million people becoming vulnerable to this type of violation, most of whom are women and children.
More than 120 humanitarian workers have lost their lives, been injured or kidnapped since the beginning of the conflict, a serious indicator of the deterioration of the humanitarian environment – and the fragility of the structure of humanitarian interventions, which requires urgent intervention.
The recent waves of displacement are concentrated in Kordofan and Darfur states, as well as areas controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), which are now receiving hundreds of thousands of civilians fleeing Khartoum and Gezira, as a result of ethnic targeting and widespread violence.
These displaced people are living in extremely harsh and complex conditions, with the complete collapse of basic services such as food, water, health, shelter and basic protection services. This makes immediate humanitarian intervention a matter of life and death.
North Darfur crisis: Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and El Fasher:
North Darfur, particularly Zamzam, Abushok and El Fasher, is one of the most affected areas, having recently witnessed military operations and large-scale forced displacement of tens of thousands of civilians.
Tens of thousands of families have been evacuated to safer areas within North Darfur by Sudan Constituent Coalition forces, while providing minimum basic needs and ensuring safe access for survivors. The displacement has spread to Central, South and West Darfur states, putting unprecedented pressure on host communities and collapsing what remains of local response capacity.
These circumstances require a rapid and coordinated humanitarian response, an immediate doubling of resources and field support to communities on the brink of collapse.
An urgent and open appeal: A critical moment to intervene
The Sudanese Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO) launches this urgent humanitarian appeal, based on its moral and humanitarian responsibility, and calls on: * UN agencies and international humanitarian organizations * African Union * League of Arab States and Arab funds * International and regional donors * African Union and regional mechanisms * National and community-based organizations * Private sector and philanthropic institutions * Friends of Sudan and humanitarian partners
The window of opportunity to avoid famine and total collapse is rapidly closing. Millions of lives are at stake, millions of lives are threatened. Every hour of delay means more hunger, death, and despair. Sudan cannot wait. IDPs can’t wait. Kordofan, Darfur, and SPLM areas cannot wait.
A special appeal to the parties to the conflict:
* We appeal to the RSF to open safe humanitarian corridors in North Darfur and provide protection for humanitarian and relief workers. * We call on the Armed Forces to allow civilians to leave, facilitate evacuations, and provide full protection for humanitarian workers. Act now – not later. Because life does not wait.
Sudanese Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO)
