The IFRC has warned that humanitarian needs in Sudan are surging while funding remains far below what is required. About 35 million people need assistance, with >9 million internally displaced and ~4.5 million having fled the country. At least 59,000 deaths are recorded (ACLED), though aid groups say this is likely an undercount. The army says it is advancing on multiple fronts, while UN and regional envoys work to revive political talks and de-escalate the conflict.
IFRC Warns Funding Falls Short As Sudan Humanitarian Crisis Deepens — 35 Million Need Help
Sudanese women gather for a hot meal in al-Rahmaniyah camp for displaced people, near the city of el-Obeid in the southern Kordofan region of Sudan, on July 7, 2026 [AFP]
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has urged the international community to scale up support for Sudan, warning that humanitarian needs are soaring while available funding remains far below requirements.
Humanitarian Emergency
"Sudan is one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, yet it is also one of its most overlooked," IFRC Special Envoy for Sudan Derk Segaar told reporters in Geneva after returning from the country. He said limited aid is reaching parts of Kordofan and Darfur, but the conflict has devastated large swathes of the country — including Khartoum, where millions lack reliable electricity, safe water and access to healthcare.
The conflict that erupted in April 2023 between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese military has produced a severe humanitarian toll. Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) reports at least 59,000 deaths, though aid groups say that figure is likely an undercount and the true total could be much higher.
Scale Of Need
Segaar outlined the scale of the crisis: approximately 35 million people now require humanitarian assistance; more than 9 million are internally displaced; and roughly 4.5 million have fled the country. Public health threats such as cholera, widespread malnutrition and seasonal flooding are compounding the emergency.
"We are seeing communities cut off from basic services and growing disease risks on top of conflict-related trauma," Segaar said.
Military Developments And Political Efforts
On the military front, Sudanese Army Lieutenant-General Yasser al-Atta told soldiers that government forces are advancing on multiple fronts with the stated goal of eliminating the RSF by the end of the year. The location of his remarks was not specified.
"We are implementing the theory of advancing in all directions, with all fronts moving simultaneously... Before the end of this year, there will not be a single Janjaweed fighter or a foreign fighter," al-Atta said, using a term commonly applied to RSF fighters.
The army and allied forces recently conducted rapid operations seizing towns and positions along a strategic road linking Omdurman with el-Obeid in North Kordofan. Sudan's three Kordofan states — North, West and South — have seen sustained clashes between the army and the RSF since October 2025.
Diplomacy And De-Escalation Efforts
Meanwhile, the United Nations and regional partners are intensifying diplomatic efforts to revive a stalled political process. Representatives from five international organisations — including the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union and the League of Arab States — met with Sudanese political parties to explore steps that could restore dialogue and build confidence.
UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said the meetings build on exploratory consultations held in Addis Ababa in June, while the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, is engaging directly with RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to seek ways to reduce escalation.
Humanitarian Appeal
The IFRC called for urgent increases in funding and access so humanitarian organisations can reach civilians across conflict-affected areas. Aid groups warn that without a significant uptick in resources and secure humanitarian corridors, millions of vulnerable Sudanese face worsening hunger, disease and displacement.
Sources: IFRC statements; Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED); United Nations briefings.
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