Inside war-hit Sudan’s only functioning hospital curing tropical diseases

International donors pledged $1.5 billion in humanitarian aid for Sudan at a Berlin conference marking the third anniversary of the country's civil war, which began in April 2023. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an end to the conflict between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), highlighting the dire humanitarian crisis affecting nearly 34 million Sudanese people. Over 4.5 million have been displaced, and widespread sexual violence has been reported. The conference aimed to revive peace negotiations, but both warring parties were excluded. Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the meeting, denouncing it as a "colonial tutelage approach" for excluding and not coordinating with the Sudanese government.

As Sudan enters its fourth year of war between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, the conflict is being described as an "abandoned crisis" overshadowed by other global events. The fighting has created a humanitarian disaster, displacing 13 million people and causing widespread hunger, particularly in the Darfur region. The UN estimates at least 59,000 people have been killed, with a single RSF offensive in el-Fasher resulting in 6,000 deaths and bearing "the defining characteristics of genocide". International efforts to establish a ceasefire, including those by the US, have been unsuccessful, and regional powers are allegedly backing combatants. The UN humanitarian chief has criticized the world's failure to address the crisis.

As Sudan enters its fourth year of war on Wednesday, the conflict is being described as an "abandoned crisis" overshadowed by other global events. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has caused widespread devastation, particularly in the Darfur region, leading to mass displacement and famine. At least 59,000 people have been killed, and millions are in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN reports that parts of Sudan are facing famine, with a projected 800,000 people suffering from severe acute malnutrition. International efforts to establish a ceasefire have been unsuccessful, and the crisis is further complicated by alleged external support for the warring parties.

An international conference in Berlin yielded over £1 billion in pledges for Sudan, surpassing the organizers' target to address the country's escalating humanitarian crisis. The funds aim to alleviate the severe shortfall in humanitarian aid needed to support the 34 million Sudanese requiring assistance due to the ongoing conflict. Despite the financial commitments, peace prospects remain uncertain as ceasefire talks have stalled and neither of Sudan's warring factions attended the conference. The Sudanese government criticized the event for lack of consultation, while protests occurred outside the venue. The US stated its focus is on achieving a humanitarian truce to facilitate aid delivery, though diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire have been unsuccessful.

The war in Sudan, which began in 2023, has resulted in a devastating human cost. According to a BBC report by Barbara Plett Usher, the scale of the impact is "simply staggering." The conflict has created a humanitarian crisis across the country, impacting the lives of millions. The report highlights the widespread suffering and displacement caused by the ongoing violence. The specific details of the human toll are not elaborated upon in this summary, but the report emphasizes the severity of the situation in Sudan.

Sudan's civil war, ongoing since 2023 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and displaced approximately 14 million people, roughly a quarter of the population. The conflict has extensively damaged civilian infrastructure and caused a widespread collapse across all major sectors of Sudan's economy. A UNDP report estimates that Sudan lost $6.4 billion in GDP in 2023 alone. Even with peace achieved in 2026, the country is projected to lose an estimated $18.8 billion in GDP by 2043. The war's impact extends beyond economic losses, affecting agriculture, industry, services, and state institutions, fundamentally reshaping Sudan's economic future.

As Sudan's conflict enters its fourth year, the UN's top official in the country, Denise Brown, has criticized the lack of political urgency to end the war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army. Brown described the situation as "bloody unacceptable," highlighting that the world focuses on other crises. The conflict has displaced 14 million Sudanese, left 33 million in need of assistance, and is estimated to have killed at least 150,000. New reports reveal a worsening humanitarian crisis, including the closure of vital community kitchens, widespread food shortages with millions surviving on one meal a day, and the deliberate targeting of health infrastructure. A conference in Berlin is scheduled to address the crisis. The war has set Sudan's economy back more than 30 years.

Entering its fourth year in April 2026, Sudan's civil war, which began on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), has created a dire humanitarian crisis. The conflict, stemming from a power struggle after a 2021 coup, has displaced an estimated 14 million people, with 4.4 million crossing borders into neighboring countries. Fighting is concentrated in Darfur, Khartoum, Kordofan, and Gezira, resulting in an estimated 40,000 deaths and widespread violence. The SAF controls much of eastern and central Sudan, while the RSF controls the Darfur region. The war has devastated the healthcare system, leading to hunger, abuse, and disease outbreaks among the displaced population, with no clear resolution in sight.

As the Sudan war enters its fourth year, the United Nations reports a surge in civilian deaths from drone strikes, with nearly 700 fatalities since the start of 2026. The UN's humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, highlighted the increasing use of drones, particularly in Kordofan and Darfur, disrupting daily life and causing significant casualties, including children. UNICEF reports that drones are responsible for approximately 80% of child casualties in the first three months of the year. Doctors Without Borders also reported treating dozens of civilians wounded in drone strikes. Fletcher also warned that the war in Iran is complicating humanitarian aid efforts and increasing the risk of regional instability, displacing millions within Sudan and across its borders.

The article discusses the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which began on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has caused widespread destruction, displacement, and loss of life. The author emphasizes the need for an immediate ceasefire to ensure the safety and well-being of Sudanese citizens and access to basic services. Following a ceasefire, the article calls for a comprehensive political process involving all political actors and the Sudanese people to establish a new governance system. The article highlights the failure of the previous transition after the ousting of Omar al-Bashir due to fractured political fronts, a weakened civil society, and external interference, emphasizing the need for a unified vision to move forward.