Sudan humanitarian aid and support

How is the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement helping people in Sudan?

Our emergency response is being co-led by the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), working as one Movement to support people impacted. SRCS are leading on the front-line delivery of aid, and were on the ground responding to the conflict from day one.

They having mobilised almost 9,000 volunteers across the country to provide life-saving support to people affected. SRCS have been delivering first aid and urgent medical care, providing people with emergency supplies like food, water, and toiletries, as well as providing emotional support to people who have experienced trauma during this crisis.

The ICRC are taking a lead in the health sector, as well as managing negotiations with all parties and evacuations of people caught up in the conflict. The ICRC have been instrumental in to ensure hundreds of severely wounded people receive the care they need. The ICRC has also helped to evacuate 310 children and 72 staff from orphanages in Khartoum, as well as facilitating the release of 254 detainees, helping to reunite them with their families.

The International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Society (IFRC) are supporting through coordination across the Movement, and delivery of critical aid. They have facilitated receipt and distribution of nearly 65,000kg of relief supplies, working closely with local authorities, international agencies and other partners to make sure aid is delivered safely and to those most vulnerable. The IFRC is the co-convener to support National Societies in neighbouring impacted countries.

Our sister National Societies in Chad, South Sudan, Central Africa Republic and Ethiopia are providing essential services including first aid, psychosocial support, distributing food, water and essential household items, as well as supporting people to reunite with their loved ones.

Is there a hunger crisis in Sudan?

Even before the current conflict, Sudan was in urgent need of humanitarian support. But hunger rates are on rise. Over 17.7 million people across Sudan are going hungry and of those, 4.9 million people are experiencing critical levels of hunger.

Find out how the Red Cross is supporting people affected by hunger in parts of Africa

What are conditions like for people on the ground in Sudan?

We’re seeing humanitarian need grow at an alarming rate across the country, as well as amongst refugees crossing the border.

Health and hunger needs are of particular concern. Months of fierce fighting have left some of the country’s vital services extremely fragile - around 80% of health facilities are not currently functioning in areas most affected by the conflict.

As of January, nine states across the country were reporting suspected cases of cholera, with outbreaks of measles and dengue fever also reported, while almost 65% of the population lack access to health care.

Is there a refugee crisis in Sudan?

The conflict has sparked a mass displacement crisis. To date, over 8 million people have been displaced by the conflict - including some 1.8 million who have fled to neighbouring countries like Chad, Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The number of those displaced continues to grow rapidly; in December, as conflict spread into Al Jazeera, over 500,000 people were forced to flee in search of safety. Today, some 700,000 people have fled to Chad alone. Nearly half of all those forced to flee their homes are children.