Insecurity Ignites Fears of a Nationwide Crisis in Sudan

As the Sudanese Civil War continues to devastate the country, the plight of internally displaced persons worsens each day. Currently, Sudan faces the largest displacement crisis globally. Rampant famine, violence, and gender-based violence have become pervasive. Recently termed “an invisible crisis” by the United Nations’ new emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher, many observers argue that humanitarian efforts have fallen short in addressing the urgent and escalating needs.

The latest estimates from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees indicate that about 11.5 million individuals have been forced to flee their homes since the onset of the conflict. Around 8.5 million remain scattered within Sudan, while 3 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries like Chad, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that this mass displacement has resulted in one of the most significant educational crises worldwide, with approximately 90 percent of Sudan’s 19 million school-aged children unable to access formal education.

The situation in Sudanese displacement camps has seen a troubling spike in violence over recent days. On December 1-2, intense gunfire and shelling were reported near Zamzam camp, one of the largest shelters located south of El Fasher in North Darfur. Humanitarian organizations have confirmed that at least five individuals were killed and eighteen others injured, resulting in the evacuation of a hospital within the camp and the halting of medical services.

In a report from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, condemned the violence and called for stronger protections for civilians.

“I am deeply troubled by reports of indiscriminate shelling targeting the Zamzam camp, health clinics, and shelters for displaced persons. Their protection is essential. Civilians and civilian infrastructure are safeguarded by international humanitarian law and should never be targeted,” stated Nkweta-Salami.

The UN has characterized conditions in the Zamzam camp as being at a “breaking point.” Increased violence has compounded the already dire situation for nearly 500,000 displaced individuals in the camp. Health clinics, living quarters, and humanitarian efforts are severely strained by the overwhelming suffering reported. According to a press release from the UN, famine has persisted in the Zamzam camp since August 2024, marking it as the only area globally where famine has been declared this year.

Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF) has been on the frontlines, aiding displaced individuals suffering from severe injuries and war-related conditions. On December 1, MSF treated eight injured patients, including children as young as four, who faced ailments such as chest trauma and bone fractures.

MSF has indicated that thousands of children are currently receiving treatment for malnutrition and starvation. A series of assessments of the mortality rate among 400 households in the Zamzam camp revealed that roughly 30 percent of 46,000 children are affected by acute malnutrition, while 8 percent are dealing with severe malnutrition. Additionally, 10 percent of children under five years old face severe acute malnutrition, a life-threatening condition.

The World Food Programme has called for an end to the violence to ensure humanitarian aid can reach the affected communities. “We have been advocating for months to access these communities. We have the food, the vehicles, and the personnel ready to deliver this aid. Now we need all warring factions and armed groups to allow this crucial food and nutrition to be delivered securely,” remarked Alex Marianelli, WFP’s Operations Deputy Country Director in Sudan.

Moreover, gender-based violence continues to be a widespread issue affecting displaced communities across Sudan. Data from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reveals that approximately 65 percent of all women and girls experience sexual, physical, and gender-based violence at some point in their lives. Sudan ranks among the countries with the highest reported rates of intimate partner violence.

“Every day, countless South Sudanese women and girls endure unimaginable suffering due to gender-based violence and conflict-related sexual violence,” said South Sudanese Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, Aya Warille. “These acts transcend mere statistics; they are serious violations of human rights that tear apart the very fabric of our society, stripping our mothers, sisters, and daughters of their dignity and imposing an immense burden on our future. This crisis is not just a women’s issue; it represents a societal breakdown that challenges our shared humanity.”

Sudanese civilians and humanitarian officials alike have expressed that aid responses are woefully inadequate relative to the vast, nationwide suffering. Two decades ago, there were presidents and prime ministers working to halt atrocities in Darfur. Today, the stakes are exponentially higher—this situation has become the world’s most pressing crisis—and yet it seems to be met with widespread silence. “We must awaken the world before famine claims an entire generation of children,” stated Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).