Sudan Crisis: Famine and Massacres as War Enters Fourth Year

Sudan entered a fourth year of civil war on April 15, 2026, with international officials and agencies describing the situation as an abandoned crisis defined by famine and massacres.

The conflict, which began on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in a massive humanitarian collapse. According to UN agencies, approximately 14 million people, representing a quarter of the national population, have been forced to flee their homes.

Of the total displaced population, 9 million people remain displaced within Sudan’s borders, while 4.4 million have crossed into neighboring countries, primarily Egypt, South Sudan, and Chad.

Ongoing Military Operations and Tactics

Fighting remains active across large portions of the country, with significant violence concentrated in Blue Nile State, Darfur, and the Kordofans.

Marie-Helene Verney, the representative of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Sudan, stated that there has been an increase in the use of drone attacks and aerial bombardments. These airstrikes have targeted civilian infrastructure without providing warnings.

The conflict has been marked by severe human rights violations. UN agencies report the continued occurrence of arbitrary arrests, forced recruitment, and massacres.

Sexual violence has been a prominent feature of the unrest, particularly affecting women and girls who are often targeted while attempting to reach safety. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) identified more than 500 victims of sexual violence in 2025 alone.

Civilian casualties reached record levels in 2025, with 11,300 civilians killed during that year. Thousands more remain unidentified or missing.

Famine and Healthcare Collapse

The war has left the Sudanese health system in ruins, leading to widespread malnutrition and a lack of essential medical supplies. In Port Sudan, the paediatric hospital stabilization center continues to treat children for severe malnutrition.

On April 15, 2026, medical staff at the center were treating patients such as two-month-old Saidal Altaher and Hashem Abderaman for malnutrition as food and other critical supplies remained under strain.

The combination of active fighting and the destruction of health infrastructure has created a state of famine in multiple regions, further complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid.

International Response and Global Context

Officials lament that the crisis in Sudan has been overshadowed by newer conflicts in the Middle East, leading to the description of the war as an abandoned crisis.

Despite the scale of the displacement and the reported massacres, UN representatives state that there is no clear progress toward a resolution of the conflict between the SAF and the RSF.

International attention to the war was marked on April 15, 2026, by commemorative events, including a tree planting event held in Nairobi, Kenya, to recognize the three years of conflict and the ongoing suffering of the Sudanese population.