Sudan Conflict Response Fund

What is happening in Sudan

More than three years after conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, Sudan remains one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises.

The fighting, which began in Khartoum, has spread across the country, driving repeated displacement, destroying essential infrastructure, and severely limiting access to food, healthcare, water and protection services. More than 9 million people are internally displaced across Sudan, making it the world’s largest internal displacement crisis. Women and children make up the majority of people living in many displacement sites and face urgent and unmet needs for healthcare, protection and basic services.

The crisis is particularly dangerous for women and girls. As communities are displaced and essential services collapse, women and girls face heightened risks of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, exploitation, harassment and child marriage. Survivors often struggle to access safe spaces, healthcare and other essential support.

“Women and children are affected more because there are not enough services. They do not have enough access to healthcare, food, and safety, which causes more cases of malnutrition, especially in pregnant women and children. Also, women often face sexual and emotional abuse.” 

- Abdelrahman Zakaria, Program Manager, Sudan Family Planning Association

Sudan’s health system has also been severely damaged by the conflict. In many conflict-affected areas, health facilities are closed or only partially functioning, leaving women and girls with limited access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, including maternal and emergency obstetric services.

At the same time, humanitarian access remains extremely challenging. Ongoing fighting, insecurity, displacement and funding shortages are making it increasingly difficult for humanitarian organizations to reach communities with lifesaving assistance.

Supporting women and girls affected by conflict

Since August 2023, Women for Women International has supported more than 26,000 women and girls in Sudan through partnerships with local organizations working to meet urgent needs and strengthen protection for women and girls affected by conflict.

Our current partnerships focus on bringing support directly to displaced and conflict-affected communities, including through sexual and reproductive healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, safe spaces, protection services and essential hygiene supplies.

Sexual and reproductive health and protection services

Through our partnership with the Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA), we are supporting women and girls to access essential sexual and reproductive healthcare and protection services.

The partnership builds on SFPA’s previous work providing services through mobile clinics and community-based approaches, including:

• Sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning and pre- and post-natal care.
• Psychosocial and medical support for women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence.
• Support and training for community midwives on gender-based violence response and safeguarding.
• Connecting women and girls to appropriate health, protection and other support services.

Mental health and protection in displacement communities

We are also supporting a new partnership with the Mental Health Voluntary and Youth Organization (MHYVO) to bring mental health and protection services closer to women and girls living in displacement communities in Kassala State.

The project will provide:

• Mobile teams including psychologists, social workers and mental health specialists.
• Safe spaces where women and girls can gather, share experiences and receive support.
• Referrals to legal, medical and protection services for women and girls experiencing violence or exploitation.
• Peer support groups that help women build connections and strengthen community support.

The project will also train local volunteers, women leaders, youth groups and religious leaders to recognize signs of gender-based violence, support survivors and connect women and girls with available services.

Reaching women and girls in South Darfur

We are also supporting a new project to provide psychosocial support, safe spaces and essential dignity supplies to displaced women and girls in South Darfur.

South Darfur has been heavily affected by prolonged conflict, while insecurity and access constraints have made it particularly difficult for organizations to reach women and girls with assistance. The project will focus on providing support where critical gaps remain.

The project will:

• Provide psychosocial support sessions for displaced and host-community women.
• Establish safe spaces for adolescent girls where they can access psychological support, learn about gender-based violence and receive health information.
• Distribute emergency dignity kits containing essential hygiene supplies for women and girls.

Building on local leadership

Our response in Sudan builds on partnerships with Sudanese women’s rights and civil society organizations that understand the needs and realities of the communities they serve.

Previously, we partnered with the Sudanese Organization for Research and Development (SORD) to support women affected by conflict in Khartoum, Kassala and Gedaref States. This included distributing dignity kits, providing trauma-informed counseling, and documenting survivor-centered experiences of women affected by war-related sexual violence.

In April 2026, together with SORD, we published Stories of Strength in Displacement: Women’s Voices from Al-Gadaref, Sudan, featuring the stories of seven displaced women in Al-Gadaref. The stories highlight the profound impact of displacement while also reflecting the strength, leadership and contributions of women who continue to support their families and communities.

Read the stories of women finding strength and rebuilding their lives amid displacement 

We have also previously partnered with Zenab for Women Development (ZWD) to provide emergency assistance to conflict-affected women and families in Gedaref and Gezira States, including food and cash assistance, essential supplies and medicine for pregnant women.

Support our mission

Women and girls in Sudan are facing enormous challenges as conflict, displacement and the breakdown of essential services continue.

Your support can help local organizations provide women with the healthcare, protection, psychosocial support and essential supplies they need to survive and begin rebuilding their lives.

Help us provide critical support for Sudanese women by donating to our Conflict Response Fund.

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