Sudan is suffering from the largest humanitarian crisis globally and its civilians are continuing to pay the price for inaction by the international community, NGOs and the UN have said, as the country’s civil war enters its third year.The UK is hosting ministers from 20 countries in London on Tuesday inan attempt to restart stalled peace talks. However, diplomatic efforts have often been sidelined by other crises, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.Two years to the day sincefighting erupted in Khartoumbetween the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, hundreds of people were feared to have died inRSF attacks on refugee campsin the western Darfur region in the latest apparent atrocity of a war marked by its brutality and wide-scale humanitarian impact.Sudan’s outsider: how a general fell out with the army and plunged the country into warRead moreThe consequences for Sudan’s 51 million people have been devastating. Tens of thousands are reportedly dead. Hundreds of thousandsface famine. Almost 13 million people have been displaced, 4 million of those to neighbouring countries.“Sudan is now worse off than ever before,” said Elise Nalbandian, Oxfam’s regional advocacy manager. “The largest humanitarian crisis, largest displacement crisis, largest hunger crisis … It’s breaking all sorts of wrong records.”There were “massive-scale” violations of international humanitarian law in the conflict, said Daniel O’Malley, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Sudan. “All of the civilian population, irrespective of where they are in the country, have basically been trapped between one, two or more parties. And they have been bearing the brunt of everything. The sheer numbers are just mind-boggling.”map of Sudan indicating areas of occupation by different forcesLast month, Sudan’s military recaptured thehighly symbolic presidential palacein Khartoum and it has retaken most of the capital. But in much of the country, the conflict rages on. Sources cited by the UN reported that more than 400 people had been killed in recent attacks by the RSF in Darfur, where the group is trying to seize El Fasher, the last state capital in the region not under its control.Since late last week, the RSF has launched ground and aerial assaults on El Fasher itself and the nearby Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps. A UN spokesperson told Agence France-Presse that the UN’s rights office had verified 148 killings and received reports from “credible sources” that the total number of dead exceeded 400.Reuters reported that data from the UN’s International Organization forMigrationsuggested that up to 400,000 people had been displaced from the Zamzam camp alone since the weekend.In a statement the UN rights chief, Volker Türk, said the “large-scale attacks … made starkly clear the cost of inaction by the international community, despite my repeated warnings of heightened risk for civilians in the area”.He added: “The attacks have exacerbated an already dire protection and humanitarian crisis in a city that has endured a devastating RSF siege since May last year.”View image in fullscreenA video shared by the group North Darfur Observatory for Human Rights is said to show people fleeing the Zamzam camp with their belongings strapped to camels and donkeys.Photograph: X | @NorthDarfu24El Fasher is one of several areas of Darfur where a famine, affecting about 637,000 people, has been declared. Almost half the 50-million population of Sudan – 24.6 million people – do not have enough food.Leni Kinzli, the World Food Programme’s head of communications for Sudan, said the other conflicts, as well as a lack of access for journalists, and Sudan’s relative international isolation since the days of the regime of the ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir all meant Sudan was not getting the attention it needed.“We don’t see the level of international attention on Sudan as we do for other crises,” she said. “There should not be a competition between crises. But unfortunately we’re seeing with everything going on in the world, other conflicts, other humanitarian crises and other things making headlines, that unfortunately Sudan is – I wouldn’t even call it forgotten – it’s ignored.”map depicting movement of refugees and areas where they are concentratedThe origins of the war can be traced to late 2018, when popular protests broke out against the Sudanese dictator Bashir. Sudan’s army leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, allied with the RSF chief,Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, a former warlord known as Hemedti, to oust Bashir in a coup in April 2019.Atrocities mount daily. Promised aid does not arrive. Why has the west turned its back on Sudan?Read moreThey then allied again in 2021 to depose a civilian government meant to transition Sudan to a democracy. However, Hemedti had long coveted ultimate power for himself, and the friction between the two spiralled into full-on war less than two years later.The RSF, a paramilitary force that grew out of the Janjaweed Arab militiasaccused of committing genocidein the Darfur region in the mid-2000s, made rapid gains in the first weeks and months, as the fighting spread beyond Khartoum.3:22Khartoum before and after: footage shows destruction wreaked by war in Sudan – videoIn Darfur thousands of people died in the first year of the war, in well-documented attacks by the RSF and allied militias on non-Arab Masalit and other ethnic groups. Masalit refugees who had fled west to Chad recounted women and girls beingtargeted for gang rapesand boys shot in the street. Militia fighters said they wouldforce women to have “Arab babies”, according to a UN report released in November 2024.The RSF and the army have both been accused of committing war crimes in the course of the conflict.In January of this year the USformally declared that the RSF had committed genocide, marking the second time in less than 30 years that genocide had been perpetrated in Sudan.The United Arab Emirates has been accused of fuelling the conflict by arming the RSF.Emirati passports allegedly foundon the battlefield last year point to potential covert boots on the ground. The UAE has denied all involvement in the war.This article was amended on 15 April 2025. An earlier version featured maps which mislabelled the Central African Republic as Cameroon.
Sudan in ‘world’s largest humanitarian crisis’ after two years of civil war
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Sudan Faces Severe Humanitarian Crisis as Civil War Enters Third Year"
The Guardian
7.6
TruthLens AI Summary
Sudan is currently facing the world's largest humanitarian crisis as the civil war, which began two years ago, continues to devastate the nation. The conflict erupted between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. As the UK prepares to host ministers from 20 countries in an effort to revive stalled peace talks, the international community has been criticized for its inadequate response to the escalating crisis. Reports indicate that the RSF has recently launched attacks on refugee camps in western Darfur, leading to over 400 deaths in these assaults. The ongoing violence has left approximately 51 million Sudanese civilians in dire circumstances, with almost 13 million displaced and many facing severe famine, indicating a catastrophic humanitarian situation.
Oxfam's regional advocacy manager, Elise Nalbandian, highlighted the unprecedented scale of the crisis, noting record levels of humanitarian need, displacement, and hunger. The International Committee of the Red Cross reported massive violations of international humanitarian law, with civilians caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict. The RSF's recent operations have included assaults on El Fasher, the last major city in Darfur not fully controlled by the paramilitary group, exacerbating already critical living conditions. Despite the severity of the situation, the international community's attention has been diverted to other global crises, leaving Sudan largely overlooked. The roots of the conflict trace back to protests against former dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2018, and the subsequent power struggles have led to accusations of war crimes against both the RSF and the army. As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, there are urgent calls for increased international support and intervention to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
TruthLens AI Analysis
Sudan is currently facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as the civil war enters its third year. The article highlights the devastating impact of the conflict on the civilian population, emphasizing the dire need for international intervention and support. This situation is portrayed as a result of the inaction of global entities, such as NGOs and the United Nations, amidst competing global crises.
Humanitarian Crisis and International Inaction
The report underscores the catastrophic consequences for Sudan's population, with tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. The emphasis on the scale of the crisis serves to evoke a sense of urgency and moral obligation from the international community. By detailing the extent of suffering, the article aims to pressure global leaders to prioritize Sudan in their diplomatic efforts.
Public Perception and Awareness
The language used in the article is designed to instill a sense of empathy and concern among readers. By illustrating the magnitude of the crisis, the article seeks to raise awareness about the plight of Sudanese civilians, potentially mobilizing public opinion in favor of humanitarian action. This approach aligns with current trends in global activism, where public pressure can influence political decisions.
Potential Omissions and Hidden Agendas
While the article focuses on the humanitarian aspects, it may downplay other dimensions of the conflict, such as the political motivations behind the war and the roles of various factions involved. This selective framing could be seen as an attempt to simplify a complex situation, potentially obscuring deeper geopolitical interests and dynamics.
Manipulative Elements and Reliability
The manipulative potential of the article lies in its emotive language and stark presentation of facts, which could lead to sensationalism. However, the information presented is based on credible sources like NGOs and the International Committee of the Red Cross, suggesting a high degree of reliability. The use of statistics and expert quotes lends credibility, while the focus on human suffering engages readers emotionally.
Connection to Global Issues
This report connects to broader global themes, such as the impact of geopolitical crises on humanitarian efforts. The mention of competing conflicts, like those in Ukraine and Gaza, highlights how international attention can be diverted, affecting Sudan's situation. This context suggests an interconnectedness of global issues, where one crisis may overshadow another, complicating humanitarian responses.
Impact on Communities and Economies
The potential scenarios following this report include increased public advocacy for Sudan and possibly a shift in international policy towards more active involvement in peace talks. Economically, heightened awareness may lead to increased funding for humanitarian efforts, while politically, it could prompt discussions in legislative bodies about foreign aid and intervention strategies.
Target Audience and Community Response
The article likely appeals to humanitarian organizations, activists, and the general public concerned with global injustices. It may resonate particularly with communities engaged in advocacy for human rights and humanitarian assistance, aiming to galvanize support for Sudan.
Market and Economic Implications
The report could influence global markets indirectly by affecting investor sentiment towards countries involved in humanitarian crises. Companies focused on humanitarian aid, NGOs, and related sectors may see an increase in interest and funding due to heightened awareness of the crisis.
Geopolitical Relevance
The situation in Sudan is significant in the context of global power dynamics, shedding light on how ongoing conflicts can reshape international relations. The article's relevance is heightened by the current geopolitical climate, where humanitarian crises often intersect with national interests. In summary, the article presents a credible account of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, utilizing emotive language and expert insights to advocate for increased international action. The portrayal of the crisis aims to mobilize public sentiment while potentially simplifying complex political factors. Overall, the reliability of the information is supported by reputable sources, but the framing raises questions about the nuances of the conflict.