Sudan Crisis Relief: Help Children in Urgent Need
Sudan is facing what humanitarian leaders describe as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Millions of people urgently need food, medical care, shelter and protection as conflict continues to devastate communities across the country, particularly in Darfur.
According to Save the Children U.S. President & CEO Janti Soeripto, delivering aid is extremely difficult because humanitarian workers must cross dangerous conflict zones controlled by multiple armed groups, often traveling for days on damaged roads to reach families in need.
Women and children are among the hardest hit. Many families have been displaced after fleeing violence, and large numbers of households are now led by women after men were killed, disappeared or joined armed groups. The United Nations has also reported widespread sexual violence against women and girls as the conflict escalates.
Humanitarian organizations are struggling to keep up with the growing need. Aid deliveries are delayed by insecurity, damaged infrastructure and rising transportation costs, while critical supplies like medicine and nutrition treatments are becoming harder and more expensive to deliver. Despite the scale of the crisis, aid leaders warn that Sudan is receiving far less international attention and support than other global emergencies.
A graphic representing that Sudan is the number one child displacement crisis in the world.
Sudan is the now the world’s worst humanitarian crisis
A graphic representing a stat from Sudan that one third of the population has been forced to flee their homes due to conflict.
Nearly one‑third of the population of Sudan have been forced to flee their homes
A graphic representing the stat that 20 million people in Sudan face acute food insecurity.
More than 20 million people face acute food insecurity
Save the Children's Humanitarian Response in Sudan
Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983. Despite the challenges, we’ve reached 4.4 million people, including 3 million children, in Sudan and in neighboring countries hosting refugees.
We provide medical supplies, including medicines for children under five years old and emergency trauma kits for the life-saving treatment of injuries
We run mobile health clinics in the camps for displaced people and also provide nutrition supplements for malnourished children.
We offer games and activities for children, such as dancing, drawing and sports to overcome their negative experiences.
WATCH: Save the Children U.S. President and CEO Janti Soeripto Joins "Face the Nation"
Save the Children U.S. President & CEO Janti Soeripto joined "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" to share firsthand accounts from Sudan, where conflict, displacement and hunger are devastating families and children.
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Sudan's Humanitarian Crisis: FAQ
When did the conflict in Sudan begin?
Sudan is facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis following more than three years of ongoing conflict that erupted in April 2023 and has since spread across much of the country.
What began as fighting in the capital has evolved into widespread violence, displacement, and the collapse of essential systems, including food markets, healthcare, water services and education.
How has the conflict in Sudan impacted health facilities?
Sudan’s health system is on the brink of collapse. Many health facilities in conflict‑affected areas are no longer functioning due to attacks, looting, shortages of staff and supplies, and lack of fuel and water. This has cut children and pregnant women off from essential, and often lifesaving, care. Facilities that remain open are overwhelmed and struggling to cope amid severe shortages and disease outbreaks.
How many people in Sudan have been displaced due to the conflict?
Over 13 million people—almost one third of the population—have been forced to flee their homes, both within Sudan and across borders into neighbouring countries. Sudan is now the world’s largest child displacement crisis. Many families have been displaced multiple times as fighting continues to spread.
Why is it difficult to deliver humanitarian aid in Sudan?
Delivering aid in Sudan is extremely challenging because of active conflict, damaged roads, insecurity and restrictions on humanitarian access. In some regions, paved roads end near the border, forcing aid workers to transport supplies across rough desert terrain for days.
Humanitarian organizations also face rising transportation costs and delays in moving medicine and nutrition supplies into affected communities.
How is Save the Children helping children and families in Sudan who have been displaced by conflict?
Save the Children has been working in Sudan since 1983 and currently operates in 14 of the country’s 18 states, working directly and through partners.
Despite extreme insecurity and access constraints, Save the Children and its partners are delivering a large‑scale humanitarian response across health, nutrition, water and sanitation, education, child protection, food security and livelihoods.
In 2025, Save the Children and its partners reached over 4.4 million people, including more than 3 million children, with life‑saving and life‑sustaining assistance.
Updated: May 2026