A forgotten crisis: Sudan

The levels of food insecurity, malnutrition and disease are soaring. Currently almost 26 million people are experiencing acute hunger, with 755,000 facing famine-like conditions. 

Nineteen year-old Nedal was born in Ardamata, on the outskirts of El Geneina, Sudan, into a life of displacement. During the conflict in the early 2000s, Ardamata was a displacement camp for those fleeing persecution. Over the next two decades, it became a bustling neighbourhood, home to over 80,000 people. But today, it is nearly destroyed. 

In November 2023, armed groups entered the area and began systematically attacking and evicting families. For Nedal, it was a terrifying experience. “A group of people entered our home. I asked them to leave, but they refused. I was very scared, and I decided we had to get away.”  

Taking her newborn son, Abdul, she embarked on a perilous journey that ultimately led to a temporary refugee camp in Adré, just across the border in Chad. It is not a safe place for young women or children and is scheduled for closure.  

“I stayed there for five months, but it was almost impossible to survive,” Nedal says. “I had no money and no way of earning income. We had very little to eat and my son was not well, so I decided to come back. It was a difficult decision, but I felt we had no choice.”  

Today, Nedal’s situation remains precarious. “There were dead bodies here when we came back,” she recalls. Much of Ardamata is in ruins, with most of the facilities abandoned or destroyed. Food is scarce and Abdul, now a one-year-old, became severely malnourished.  

Nedal brought him to the nearby health center, which was ransacked and looted during the attacks, but has since been repaired and reopened by Concern. He was screened by a nutrition team and is now on a course of emergency therapeutic treatment, which should last between six and eight weeks. Nedal says his condition is improving every day. 

Nedal says she feels safer now, but worries about the future. Her main concern is for her young son. 

The deepening crisis in Sudan and neighbouring countries has left humanitarian organisations like Concern struggling to cope, and the Sudanese people feeling forgotten, according to Reka Sztopa, Concern’s Regional Director for West Africa and Sahel. 

“While the humanitarian community, and Concern, are doing what we can, there is too little funding and too few resources to meet the unprecedented needs,” said Reka. 

“It’s no wonder that people I talked with there feel they have been forgotten – it is inhuman to think that people can survive, let alone thrive, with such little support. We all need to do more to ensure that the basic elements of life -- food, water, shelter, health care and protection -- are made available to everyone who has been displaced due to this conflict.”  

Within Sudan, Concern has been supporting and supplying health and nutrition services in over 90 clinics across the country. The clinics are treating acutely malnourished children, pregnant women and new mothers. They are also providing wider health services and have reached over 234,000 people with health and nutrition support so far.  

In addition, Concern is delivering cash assistance, food aid, and essential emergency items to displaced families. 

People are fleeing unprecedented levels of physical and sexual violence in Sudan, often with only the clothes on their back. Concern is working to support those who have crossed into Chad and South Sudan.  

In eastern Chad, over 1.1 million refugees and returnees have crossed the border since the conflict began. Concern is supporting primary health and nutrition services to displaced people and host communities. This includes operating a health post in the refugee camp of Zabout, where more than 55,000 refugees have been relocated. 

“Despite the efforts of humanitarian actors, access to basic services remains a huge challenge in the host areas,” Concern’s Country Director in Chad, Clemence Eberschweiler, said. “The sudden and brutal floods in August increased the vulnerability of hundreds of thousands of people. We need everyone's support to help to improve access to the most basic and vital services and preserve the dignity of people living in extremely vulnerable circumstances.” 

In South Sudan, over 848,000 people have sought refuge. The majority are South Sudanese nationals returning to an already fragile and overstretched system. Concern has responded by providing cash assistance to returnee families, emergency shelters, healthcare and water and sanitation services in transit hubs. 

“Our teams are also tackling gaps in food security and nutrition, working closely with local authorities and partners to ensure the most vulnerable are supported,” Concern’s Country Director in South Sudan, Zlatko Gegic, said. “Cross-border coordination with our Sudan team has been crucial in aligning our responses. Continued global support is essential to meet the overwhelming needs and ensure no one is left behind.”