When the world retreats: Volunteers are filling Sudan’s humanitarian void

Al JazeeraEN 5 min read 100% complete by By Aunnab ElmanFebruary 24, 2026 at 01:14 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

In Sudan, local volunteer groups are increasingly filling the humanitarian void left by declining international aid. Since the start of the civil war in 2023, these committees have emerged across the country to provide essential support, such as shelter, food, and basic healthcare, to hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Organizations like "For Cost" in Kosti are run by local residents and funded by Sudanese expatriates, offering assistance to those fleeing conflict zones like South Kordofan. The volunteers are stepping in as international aid agencies struggle to meet the overwhelming needs of the millions displaced by the ongoing conflict between government forces and the RSF. The situation highlights the growing reliance on local initiatives in the face of diminishing external support.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Saudi Arabia 40% Qatar 40% Kuwait 40% Emad Asalaya 50% Muhammad Abdullah 50% Khartoum 60% Kadugli ×260% South Kordofan 60% Noha Kamal ×270% Rapid Support Forces (RSF) 70% Kosti ×680% Sudan ×290%

Keywords

sudan 100% humanitarian aid 90% volunteers 80% displaced persons 80% kosti 70% civil war 70% humanitarian crisis 70% rapid support forces (rsf) 60% shelter 60%