Humanitarian crisis deepens as South Sudan violence surges

A recent report and survivor testimonies detail widespread sexual violence committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan since the conflict began in April 2023. Women like Mariam, fleeing Gezira State, were stopped and raped by RSF soldiers. In el-Fasher, medical student Um Kulthum witnessed murder and mass rape before becoming a victim herself. The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) documented nearly 1,300 cases of sexual and gender-based violence across 14 states. A senior doctor also revealed that 14 female infants have been raped. Victims are often forced to suffer in silence.

A drone strike in el-Obeid, Sudan, killed at least 13 people, including eight children, according to the Sudan Doctors' Network. The attack, which occurred in a residential area controlled by the army, is attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), though no group has claimed responsibility. The incident is part of the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, a conflict that has caused a severe humanitarian crisis, displacing over 11 million people and resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. El-Obeid is a strategically important city for the RSF, located between Khartoum and the Darfur region. The attack follows recent RSF activity targeting infrastructure in the area, including a power plant.

Due to the ongoing war in Sudan, displaced families are facing a critical health crisis in camps like Khor Ajwal in White Nile State. With limited access to healthcare and clean water, children and the elderly are dying from bilharzia, a water-borne disease caused by parasitic worms. The lack of clean water sources has led to infestation and subsequent infection. Al Jazeera reported on January 6, 2026, that the displaced population is vulnerable to this preventable disease because of the conflict-induced displacement and lack of basic resources. The situation highlights the dire consequences of the war on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.

Sudan, previously the world's top exporter of gum arabic, a key ingredient in numerous global products, is now seeing the commodity fuel its ongoing conflict. Since the war began in April 2023, official Sudanese gum arabic exports have declined, while exports from neighboring countries have increased. This suggests that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are smuggling gum arabic to finance their war efforts. Gum arabic, derived from acacia trees, is vital for the food, beverage, and cosmetic industries, with international corporations importing nearly 200,000 tonnes annually. Despite past sanctions on Sudan, gum arabic was exempted due to its global importance, highlighting its significant role in the conflict's economics.