Updates from the field
State of Disaster
Hope Amid Sudan's Civil War
October 22, 2024
Sudan's State of Disaster
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has created an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, which the United Nations has called the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world.” The human toll is staggering, with millions displaced and the population on the verge of starvation, disease, and escalating violence. Without urgent action, hundreds of thousands could face death in the coming months.
Since April 2023, the war has ravaged the country, leaving communities destroyed and families shattered by indiscriminate violence. Towns once full of life are now in ruins. Children, the elderly, and parents are caught in the crossfire, while women and girls face abduction, rape, and forced marriages. Hundreds of villages have been decimated, leaving survivors in increasingly desperate conditions. The crisis grows worse by the day, with millions in urgent need of aid.
Humanitarian Crisis at Breaking Point
Sudan’s food supply has been decimated, with fields abandoned, harvests lost, and essential supply lines for food and medicine severed. Over 25 million Sudanese—half the country’s population—are now facing acute hunger, with 8.5 million on the brink of famine. Mothers are struggling to feed their children, who are wasting away in the face of starvation. The crisis touches every region, and the situation deteriorates daily. One Sudanese woman shared,
It has been 32 days since we cooked anything. I’m caring for 12 children, most of whom have left to search for food because I have nothing to give them.
Nearly 13 million people have been displaced, surpassing the combined displaced populations of Ukraine and Gaza. In places like Darfur, the situation is even worse, with diseases like cholera spreading in overcrowded camps with little medical support. Heavy rains and floods have only added to the misery, displacing even more people.
Despite the staggering toll—13,000 civilians killed and 33,000 injured—international attention has waned. Aid is blocked, militias control key roads, and hospitals are being targeted, leaving healthcare systems in shambles. The conflict has made it nearly impossible for aid to reach those in need, and the humanitarian crisis has reached its breaking point.
Impact of Emergency Aid Intervention
In the face of overwhelming obstacles, Shai Fund has partnered with trusted local networks to deliver critical aid to areas inaccessible to most organizations. Despite security risks and logistical challenges, we’ve been able to bring life-saving food and medical aid, including to vulnerable Christian communities. By working directly with local leaders in Darfur, we’ve bypassed many of the barriers that hinder other organizations, ensuring that aid reaches those in desperate need quickly and efficiently.
Our work goes beyond immediate relief. By empowering local pastors and community leaders to distribute food and offer spiritual support, we are helping build long-term resilience. So far, we’ve provided food to over 8,000 people in hard-to-reach areas, embodying the Sudanese principle of nafeer—collective action. In collaboration with our partners, we set up a community kitchen that fed 4,000 children daily for two weeks, ensuring that aid was shared equitably and efficiently. In a crisis that the world seems to have forgotten, Shai Fund’s intervention in Darfur is a beacon of hope. As one recipient said,
I thank you for not forgetting us. You helped us in our darkest hour, and we are deeply grateful.
As the crisis rages on, Shai Fund continues to deliver vital aid. With your support, we can reach the most vulnerable with food, medicine, and emergency supplies. Your donation enables us to provide life-saving relief to those who would otherwise be forgotten.
Together, we can bring hope to those who need it most. Lives depend on it.
