The Sudan civil war, entering its second year in 2025, caused a humanitarian crisis affecting how many millions of people?

The civil war in Sudan, which erupted on April 15, 2023, has plunged the nation into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, affecting an staggering number of people. As the conflict entered its third year in April 2025, more than 30 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance. By early 2026, this number had risen even further, with 33.7 million individuals requiring assistance across the country. This immense figure underscores the devastating impact of the ongoing hostilities on the Sudanese population, making the answer of over 25 million people affected tragically accurate.

The conflict primarily pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), both of whom had previously collaborated in a 2021 coup to overthrow Sudan's democratically elected government. A subsequent power struggle between SAF chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, escalated into open warfare. This internal struggle has not only destabilized the nation but has also led to widespread destruction, displacement, and a severe breakdown of essential services.

The humanitarian fallout (Review) has been profound, with nearly one in three Sudanese people forced to flee their homes since the war began. Over 15 million people have been displaced, including 11.58 million internally and approximately 4 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Beyond displacement, more than 21.2 million people are grappling with acute food insecurity, facing severe hunger and malnutrition as a direct consequence of the conflict's disruption to agricultural production and supply chains. The war continues to inflict immense suffering, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence and the ensuing crisis.