Sudan war enters fourth year as officials warn of ‘abandoned crisis’

Sudan on Wednesday entered the fourth year of its devastating civil war , with United Nations officials warning the conflict has become an “abandoned crisis” as global attention shifts to other geopolitical flashpoints.

The war, which erupted on April 15, 2023 , pits the Sudanese Armed Forces led by Gen Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo . The fighting has devastated large parts of the country and created what aid groups describe as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis .

Casualty estimates vary widely. Official figures suggest at least 59,000 people have been killed , but analysts and diplomats say the true toll may reach around 150,000 deaths due to limited access to conflict areas.

The war has also produced the largest displacement crisis globally , forcing about 13 million people to flee their homes , including millions who have crossed into neighbouring countries. Overall, the United Nations says around 34 million Sudanese require humanitarian assistance .

Food insecurity has worsened dramatically. Experts warn that around 800,000 children face severe acute malnutrition , the most dangerous form of hunger, while millions of families survive on only one meal a day as aid networks struggle to operate.

The conflict has also escalated technologically, with the United Nations reporting nearly 700 civilians killed in drone strikes since January 2026 .

Sudan is effectively divided between rival administrations, with the military controlling much of the north, east and central regions while the RSF and allied groups dominate large parts of Darfur and the Kordofan region , both rich in oil and gold.

International diplomacy continues but progress remains limited. A major donors’ conference in Berlin is seeking more than USD 1 billion in humanitarian pledges , with Germany and other countries pushing for stronger global support.

Aid agencies warn the response remains severely underfunded, with only about 16 per cent of the required humanitarian funding secured for 2026 , raising fears that relief efforts could collapse as the war drags on.