Sudan Conflict Response Fund

What is happening in Sudan:  

On April 15, 2023, violent conflict erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum, Sudan. Although the clashes initially focused in and around the capital city, the fighting quickly spread throughout the country and continues unabated to the present.  

In addition to the unrelenting conflict, extreme weather events such as droughts and floods have further disrupted livelihoods. With most of the population dependent on rain-fed agriculture and livestock, these shocks have devastated rural households, displacing communities and exacerbating food insecurity. Famine conditions exist in many parts of the country, the health infrastructure has completely broken down, and humanitarian access has been severely restricted by the ongoing fighting and obstruction by armed groups, leaving civilian populations desperate and struggling to survive. 
 

“Sudan is facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with over 12.6 million displaced people deprived of necessities like food, medicine, safe water, and shelter. Refugee camps and shelters are overwhelmed. Immediate and sustained resources are needed to combat famine, malnutrition, disease, and thirst, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and women.”  

– Fatima Ahmed, President, Zenab for Women Development 
 

Millions of Civilians Displaced   

The fighting has claimed the lives of an estimated 30,000 people. Some 8.8 million people have been internally displaced within the country and 3.3 million Sudanese have fled as refugees to other countries like Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan, where we have been working since 2006.  

Thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire, including women and children, are facing hunger and health issues due to scarcity of water, food supplies, limited access to health care and electricity outages. Additionally, women are being subjected to horrific forms of violence including sexual violence, slavery and forced marriage. 

“Many states are still experiencing conflict, leading to significant challenges for women. They are being displaced, unable to access health services, and lacking security and privacy in shelters. Additionally, they still require nutrition and non-food items (NFIs).” 

- Salah Mohyeldeen Aljailany, SBCC Lead, Sudan Family Planning Association 

Meeting the Needs of Women Survivors in Sudan: 

In response to meeting the urgent needs of Sudanese women caught in the crossfire, we mobilized our Conflict Response Fund in Sudan and immediately partnered with Zenab for Women Development, the Sudan Family Planning Association, and Sudanese Organization for Research and Development (SORD) three women's rights organizations. Our partners remain in Sudan and work in some of the country’s most conflict-affected areas to provide immediate support to internally displaced women.   

With our shared commitment with Zenab for Women Development (ZWD), we are:  

• Distributing emergency kits to families; kits include food, non-food items, and essential sanitary and hygiene materials. 

• Providing medicine for pregnant women 

• Offering food and cash assistance to vulnerable women impacted by intense fighting 

In collaboration with the Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA), we are: 

• Providing sexual and reproductive health services through mobile clinics. 

• Offering psychosocial and medical support to women and girls who are survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). 

• Providing training and financial support to community midwives. 

Through our partnership with the Sudanese Organization for Research and Development (SORD), we helped to enhance the resilience of women affected by conflict in Khartoum State through: 

• Distribution of dignity kits containing sanitary pads and soap, as well as flashlights and whistles to aid their safety.  

• Provide trauma-informed counseling to women who have experienced violence and document cases of violence against women in the hope of reaching justice for survivors.   

Support Our Mission:    

Help us provide critical support for Sudanese women, to meet their urgent needs by donating to our Conflict Response Fund.