What’s happening in Sudan – and why you’re not hearing about it

At its heart, this is a war for power – and ordinary people are paying the price.

Two armed groups, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), are fighting for control. Cities have been bombed. Homes, hospitals and schools have been destroyed. People are being attacked simply because of who they are or where they live.

As the brutal fighting continues, food systems have broken down. Farms and markets are no longer functioning, supply routes are cut, food prices are soaring, and aid can’t get through.

Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes. What started as a political struggle has become a humanitarian catastrophe.

The conflict in Sudan is tearing lives apart. Nearly 12 million people – among them 7 million children – have been forced to flee their homes.

Many families are now living in crowded camps or fragile communities, struggling to survive without homes, food, or ways to earn a living.

The climate crisis is making things even worse. Parts of East Africa are facing the worst drought in 40 years, while floods and disease outbreaks are becoming more frequent.

Crops are failing, water sources are drying up, and families have even fewer ways to survive.

Daily life is a fight to stay alive. Around 90% of displaced families cannot afford even one meal a day, and famine-level hunger is spreading.

Unsafe water and poor sanitation are causing deadly diseases like cholera, while women and girls face rising risks of violence.

In total, 33.9 million people now need humanitarian assistance — and the need continues to grow.

Give now to help Oxfam and local partners deliver urgent, life-saving support to communities in the region affected by the Sudan crisis.

As violent conflict in Sudan continues, millions of people have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries like South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia. Communities taking them in are under huge pressure.

In Chad and South Sudan, where more than a million people are already living as refugees or returnees from past conflicts, many people are now facing severe hunger themselves. It has now become a regional crisis.

Oxfam cannot operate inside Sudan because it’s too dangerous. But across the region, we’re supporting people who have fled the conflict.

In South Sudan and Chad, we’re working with local partners to provide food, clean water, and other essentials people need to survive.

Much of what’s happening in Sudan doesn’t make the news. Some stories aren’t seen as important, some don’t suit those in power, and some expose failures in systems meant to protect people.

Media often focuses on clicks and profit over people. In the UK, a handful of companies control most national and local newspapers, and stories that challenge the powerful or reveal uncomfortable truths often get ignored.

Independent outlets like Radio Dabanga, a Sudanese broadcaster started during the Darfur crisis, are helping fill the gap. They provide vital updates, keep communities informed, and hold decision-makers accountable – making sure the world can see what’s happening even when mainstream news doesn’t.

Stories alone aren’t enough. Speaking up matters, and everyone can play a part.

You can speak up too

By joining the Constituency Campaigner Programme, you can raise awareness, hold leaders accountable, and help ensure crises like Sudan’s aren’t ignored.

This crisis is devastating – but it is not inevitable. It is the result of choices, and those choices can be changed. With the right action, lives can be saved, families can get food and water, and communities can be protected from further harm.

Oxfam is calling on:

• All sides to protect civilians and humanitarian workers
• Governments to stop supplying weapons where people’s lives are at risk
• The UK to use its voice at the UN to push for an end to the fighting