The UN and the crisis in Sudan (Jul-Dec 2025)

8.9 million
people internally displaced (UNHCR, May 2026)
150,000+
reportedly killed
33.7 million
people in need of assistance (OCHA, May 2026)

What is the crisis about?

On 15 April 15, 2023, the fighting erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The armed conflict is affecting millions of lives in Sudan and causing mass displacement, food insecurity and education challenges that require immediate humanitarian help.

Right now, Sudan is experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe with over 25 million people in desperate need of assistance.

More information on the background to the conflict.

Recent Statements and News

18 December

  • UN report details horrific patterns of violations committed during RSF takeover of ZamZam IDP camp (OHCHR)

17 December

Needs rise as people continue to flee flighting in Kordofan

© UNICEF/Ahmed Mohamdeen Elfatih In North Kordofan families struggle to find food after losing their livelihoods, and health facilities and schools are non-functional.
© UNICEF/Ahmed Mohamdeen Elfatih In North Kordofan families struggle to find food after losing their livelihoods, and health facilities and schools are non-functional.

Families continue to flee intense hostilities across the Kordofan region of Sudan and humanitarian needs are surging, the UN said in an update on Wednesday. (UN News)

16 December

  • Intensifying hostilities in Kordofan (OHCHR)

13 December

  • Statement by the Secretary-General on the drone attacks targeting the UNISFA logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan (OSSG)

12 December

  • Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on Sudan (OSSG)
  • WFP warns of more displacement in Sudan as fighting rages in Darfur and Kordofan amidst shrinking resources (WFP)

10 December

  • WFP celebrates sorghum harvest in eastern Sudan under World Bank managed THABAT project (WFP)

9 December

  • Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (‘Ali Kushayb’) Sentenced to 20 Years of Imprisonment | International Criminal Court (ICC)
  • UNICEF Executive Director warns of deepening protection crisis in Sudan as violence and displacement intensify (UNICEF)
  • Sudan must address ethnic violence and prevent further escalation, UN committee warns (OHCHR)

7 December

  • Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on Sudan (OSSG)

5 December

  • More than 10 children reportedly killed in attack on kindergarten in South Kordofan, Sudan (UNICEF)

3 December

  • El Fasher: A doctor’s testimony from ‘hell’ (OCHA)

4 December

Amid Sudan’s unimaginable crisis, its people endure with hope 

OHCHR/Sudan - Li Fung, Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Sudan, during a visit to Khartoum with Radhouane Nouicer, the Designated Expert on Sudan of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
OHCHR/Sudan – Li Fung, Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Sudan, during a visit to Khartoum with Radhouane Nouicer, the Designated Expert on Sudan of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

As the world prepares to mark Human Rights Day on 10 December, the UN is warning that war-torn Sudan is in the midst of arguably the gravest human rights crisis of our time. (UN News)

  • UN Human Rights Chief warns against atrocities in Sudan’s Kordofan region (OHCHR)
  • Statement from the Operational Humanitarian Country Team in Sudan on violence in the Kordofan region (OCHA)

28 November

  • Statement by Radhouane Nouicer, UN designated Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan on 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (OHCHR)

27 November

  • Mass displacement, trafficking fears deepen crisis in Sudan’s El Fasher (UN News)
  • UN experts call for urgent action to combat trafficking in El Fasher (OHCHR)

26 November

  • Sudan’s hunger crisis: How to turn the tide on famine (WFP)

25 November

  • UN Relief Chief warns needs outpace resources to support North Darfur displaced (OCHA)
  • UN Country Team Meets Sudanese Women Leaders in Khartoum to Strengthen Collaboration Amid Ongoing Conflict (UN in Sudan)

24 November

  • OCHA’s pooled fund: Providing relief in North Kordofan (OCHA)
  • UN’s gradual move back to Khartoum ‘an important step’ (UN News)

17 November

  • UN Relief Chief calls Darfur ‘epicentre of human suffering (OCHA)

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