Sudan is facing a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions, with both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) using starvation as a weapon against civilians. According to independent UN experts and various reports, over 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 others wounded in the conflict since April 2022. The situation has led to the world's largest displacement crisis with over 11 million people forced to flee their homes. Furthermore, there have been widespread reports of rampant sexual violence and other atrocities amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The conflict has created a dire food situation in Sudan, with famine imminent due to blocked humanitarian aid and disrupted harvest seasons. More than 25 million civilians in Sudan and those who fled the country require urgent humanitarian assistance. Around 2.5 million people could die from hunger by the end of September, with about 15% of the population in Darfur and Kordofan being likely the worst affected.
Local efforts to respond to Sudan's hunger crisis have been hampered by unprecedented violence and targeted attacks on civil society and local responders. Dozens of activists and local volunteers have been arrested, threatened, and prosecuted in recent weeks. The deliberate targeting of humanitarian workers and local volunteers has undermined aid operations, putting millions of people at further risk of starvation.
The UN Security Council earlier this month demanded the RSF to immediately end its siege of El Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur province, which is the military's last stronghold in the sprawling Darfur region. The fighting has centered around El Fasher, trapping hundreds of thousands of civilians and forcing at least 143,000 people to flee over the past three months.
The UN experts urged both sides to stop blocking, looting, and exploiting humanitarian assistance. They emphasized that local responders are risking their health and lives while working across battle lines. The independent experts are part of the Special Procedures, which is the largest body of independent experts in the United Nations Human Rights system.
