‘New world disorder’: Sudan, Palestine top IRC’s 2026 Emergency Watchlist

The European Union has launched an "air bridge" to deliver humanitarian aid to Sudan's Darfur region, beginning December 2025. Eight planeloads carrying 3.5 million euros worth of life-saving supplies, including water, shelter, and hygiene items, will be transported throughout December and January. The aid aims to address the urgent needs of millions affected by mass atrocities, starvation, and displacement. The situation in Darfur has worsened since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of el-Fasher in late October, further restricting aid access. The RSF takeover followed an 18-month siege, leading to mass killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence, and forcing over 100,000 people to flee.

Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023 between Sudan's military and the RSF paramilitary, Sudan is facing a severe humanitarian crisis. As of December 2025, the war has displaced approximately 14 million people, including 9.5 million internally and 4.35 million refugees in neighboring countries. The UN reports that 21.2 million people face acute food insecurity, and 10 million children are out of school. The majority of internally displaced people have sought refuge in South, North, and Central Darfur. Both sides have been accused of war crimes, and access to aid remains restricted, exacerbating the suffering of civilians.

The European Union has initiated an "air bridge" to deliver over 110 tons of humanitarian aid to Darfur, Sudan, with eight flights planned between December 2025 and January 2026. The aid includes shelter materials, sanitation supplies, and health provisions intended to address the severe humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing civil war, which has displaced millions. The aid is coming from EU stockpiles and partner organizations. However, access to those in need remains a significant challenge, particularly after the Rapid Support Forces captured El Fasher in October, further restricting aid access and worsening conditions for civilians. Humanitarian groups have been blocked from reaching civilians in need in parts of Sudan. The EU acknowledges the difficulty of ensuring the supplies reach the intended recipients amidst the conflict.

The UK government has sanctioned Sudanese paramilitary commander Brig Gen Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris (Abu Lulu) for his role in the el-Fasher massacre, where BBC Verify footage showed him executing unarmed captives after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the city in late October. The UK also sanctioned three other RSF commanders, including deputy head Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, for their involvement in violence, mass killings, and attacks on civilians. These sanctions, which include travel bans and asset freezes, are a response to the atrocities committed during Sudan's ongoing civil war, which began over two years ago after the collapse of the RSF and military coalition. The RSF's siege of el-Fasher, the army's last major stronghold in Darfur, involved brutal tactics such as detaining civilians and preventing escape. The UK believes Abu Lulu is responsible for violence based on ethnicity and religion, and the deliberate targeting of civilians.

The UK has imposed sanctions on four senior commanders of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for their alleged involvement in violence against civilians in El Fasher. The sanctions, which include asset freezes and travel bans, follow similar measures by the EU. While the UK acknowledged the UAE's and Saudi Arabia's roles in backing the RSF and the army respectively, it opted not to sanction the UAE or RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, preferring private leverage. The UK expressed concern that the Sudanese civil war, which began in April 2023 and has caused a major humanitarian crisis, could spread to neighboring South Sudan and Eritrea. The conflict between the army and the RSF has led to famine and malnutrition, particularly in the Darfur region.

A report by the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) documents nearly 1,300 cases of sexual and gender-based violence in Sudan since the civil war began in April 2023. The report, released December 12, 2025, covers 14 states and attributes 87 percent of identified attacks to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These violations are described as widespread, intentional, and often targeted, with rape accounting for over three-quarters of documented incidents, including cases involving children. The report details a pattern of violence accompanying RSF territorial advances, including home invasions, public attacks, and long-term detention. Women and girls from non-Arab tribes in Darfur and lighter-skinned women in Al-Gezira state were specifically targeted.

Since late October, when the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El Fasher in the Darfur region of Sudan, the city has been largely cut off from aid and communication. In December 2025, a local humanitarian group, Malam Darfur Peace and Development, negotiated access with the RSF to deliver limited food aid to residents facing dire conditions, including water scarcity and medical shortages. This marks the first outside glimpse into the city since its capture, revealing mass atrocities against civilians. While the local group hopes to attract more aid, major organizations like the UN World Food Program are still negotiating with the RSF for safe access due to ongoing military activity and security concerns. The RSF has been fighting a civil war against government forces for two and a half years.