As Sudan marks two years since the eruption of civil war between its military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the nation has plunged into what aid organizations and the UN describe as the largest humanitarian crisis on the planet today. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has devastated the country, displacing millions and pushing vast swathes of the population toward famine and desperation.
In the western Darfur region, where the scars of past genocide remain fresh, the violence has escalated yet again. Reports from the UN and NGOs suggest over 400 civilians were killed in RSF-led assaults on refugee camps near El Fasher, the last major city in Darfur not under RSF control. Ground and aerial attacks on the Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps have triggered an exodus, with nearly 400,000 people fleeing since the weekend alone.
“This is a crisis of staggering proportions,” said Elise Nalbandian of Oxfam. “Sudan has become the epicenter of displacement, hunger, and human suffering.” Nearly 13 million people have fled their homes, including 4 million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. An estimated 24.6 million people — almost half of Sudan’s population — now face acute food insecurity.
The UN’s rights chief Volker Türk condemned the international community’s inaction. “These attacks are not isolated incidents,” he warned. “They are the result of continued neglect, despite persistent warnings. Civilians are paying the ultimate price.”
Despite recent gains by the Sudanese military — including recapturing the presidential palace in Khartoum — the RSF maintains dominance in several regions, especially in Darfur. The RSF, born from the Janjaweed militias notorious for atrocities in the early 2000s, has again been implicated in genocide against ethnic groups like the Masalit. Survivors describe harrowing violence: gang rapes, executions, and a chilling campaign of ethnic cleansing. A November 2024 UN report detailed RSF fighters declaring intentions to force women to bear “Arab babies.”
Both warring parties have been accused of war crimes, but the RSF has drawn particular international condemnation. In January 2025, the U.S. officially designated RSF’s actions in Darfur as genocide — the second such atrocity in Sudan in under 30 years.
Fueling the violence, the United Arab Emirates has been accused of supplying arms to the RSF — an allegation it denies, despite evidence including Emirati passports reportedly found at conflict sites.
With international attention fixated on crises in Ukraine and Gaza, Sudan remains largely sidelined. “Sudan isn’t just forgotten — it’s deliberately ignored,” said Leni Kinzli of the World Food Programme. “There’s no competition in suffering, but right now, Sudan is losing the fight for global attention.”
In a bid to break the diplomatic impasse, the UK is hosting ministers from 20 countries this week to reinvigorate peace talks. But hope remains dim for a swift resolution, as the war continues to grind on — and with it, the suffering of millions.