The Sudan Crisis: A Growing Humanitarian Need and a Call for Action

Largest displacement crisis in the world

The conflict that broke out in Sudan in April 2023 has resulted in a high number of civilian casualties, extensive damage to critical infrastructure and the largest displacement crisis in the world, affecting over 11 million people. Children and families have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety, both within Sudan and across its borders.

More than 810,000 people have made the perilous journey into South Sudan—the majority women and children. They arrive by boat to Renk, Malakal and other major transit sites close to the border, exhausted and traumatised.

Most are returnees: South Sudanese who had built a new life in Sudan forced to return home to a country dealing with its own protracted civil conflict. The persistent presence of armed groups on the main roads and town peripheries means many find themselves stuck at these sites for extended periods of time.

The conditions are dire: people are sleeping in corrugated iron shacks, tents or derelict buildings—destroyed during previous bouts of conflict in the region. Our colleagues report a continued spike in cholera cases and sexual and gender-based violence. All this has been compounded by the rainy season with flash floods affecting over 32,000 people in Renk alone.

Nyamach’s story

Nyamach, a 19-year-old returnee, is currently residing in Malakal town with her nine siblings. She expresses the desperation faced by many: "The journey here was really difficult. We didn't eat for days. We saw violence and destruction all around.

But the situation here: some days, it feels even worse. Sometimes, some kind people see that we are struggling, so they give us some food to survive the day. Then, the next day comes..."

A strained response

Since the onset of the crisis, War Child has been working alongside local partners to provide children and families with mental health support, emergency cash assistance, tracing and reunification services and other forms of protection. Where possible, we also provide education opportunities. Our activities take place in Renk, Malakal, Melut and Maban in Upper Nile State. To date, we have reached over 31,000 people including 13,000 children in 2024.

Nyamach and her youngest brother were identified by War Child as in urgent need of support. Our teams on the ground are trained to spot at-risk individuals. They were quickly identified as they arrived without parents—Nyamach was the sole caregiver for her siblings.

Through case management, the family received cash to meet their basic needs and the boy received some one-to-one counselling. “I am very grateful for the support provided by War Child and other organisations”, says Nyamach. “But it is not enough. Living in these conditions, not going to school, having nothing to do all day—all this is affecting my brother emotionally.”

"The refugee influx from Sudan has placed immense strain on South Sudan's already limited resources," says Zerihun Yohannes, War Child Country Director in South Sudan. "Many families continue to arrive after weeks of harrowing travel, but we are struggling to meet growing needs. More funding is urgently needed.”

Responding in Uganda

In Uganda, where over 55,000 Sudanese refugees have sought safety, War Child is providing similar services. Our efforts are focused on strengthening the capacity of local organisations to respond to urgent protection and mental health needs in Kiryandongo Settlement in the north-west of the country. So far, more than 1,000 children are enrolled in War Child’s flagship TeamUp intervention, helping them process their experiences through play and movement.

"We are seeing real progress," says Joseylee Surmey Kasule, our Programme Development Manager in Uganda.

What’s next: scaling up our response inside Sudan

Joseylee’s words speak volumes about the crisis and where it’s headed. As of April 2024, more than 1,000 people have crossed into South Sudan on a daily basis while the situation inside Sudan remains critical.

In the coming months, War Child plans to expand its activities inside Sudan itself. Our initial priority will be to provide direct protection services to displaced families, particularly children who are separated from their caregivers. Longer-term, we hope to provide mental health support and scale up Can’t Wait to Learn, our evidence-based digital learning programme. The goal is to complement existing humanitarian efforts and ensure that no child is left behind in a conflict that remains largely neglected by the international community.