IFRC calls for more aid as Sudan humanitarian crisis worsens

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has requested increased international support to address the escalating humanitarian needs in Sudan. The organization noted that current funding levels are insufficient to meet the scale of the crisis.

Speaking in Geneva following a visit to the country, IFRC Special Envoy Derk Segaar described Sudan as one of the largest yet most neglected humanitarian emergencies globally. The conflict, which began in April 2023 between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in at least 59,000 deaths according to conflict monitoring data, though aid groups suggest the actual figure is significantly higher.

Humanitarian requirements have reached a critical level, with 35 million people needing assistance. The violence has displaced 9 million people within the country and forced 4.5 million others to flee Sudan entirely. While some aid reaches Darfur and Kordofan, the war has devastated areas like Khartoum, where millions face shortages of clean water, electricity, and medical care alongside risks from malnutrition, floods, and cholera.

On the military front, Sudanese Army Lieutenant-General Yasser al-Atta stated that the military is advancing across all fronts. He expressed a goal to eliminate the RSF and foreign fighters by the end of the year. This follows recent operations where army forces took control of Bara, Jabra al-Sheikh, Um Sayala, and other locations along the road linking Omdurman to el-Obeid in North Kordofan.

Fighting has persisted across the three Kordofan states since October 2025. Simultaneously, the United Nations is working to restart the political process. On Monday, representatives from the African Union, IGAD, the European Union, the League of Arab States, and another international organization held discussions with Sudanese civilian political leaders regarding proposals for the political process.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq confirmed these talks followed earlier consultations in Addis Ababa. Additionally, UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Pekka Haavisto is in communication with RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo to discuss ways to reduce the escalation of the conflict.