Humanitarian organisations have renewed calls for urgent UK government intervention as the conflict in Sudan passes 1,000 days, warning that the country is now facing the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world.
Christian Aid and World Vision UK - alongside 11 other UK-based aid agencies such as Save the Children UK, Oxfam, Tearfund and CARE International UK - said prolonged fighting has pushed millions of civilians into life-threatening hunger, displacement and disease, with almost two-thirds of Sudan’s population now reliant on humanitarian assistance.
Through a coordinated appeal under a coalition called KeepEyesOnSudan, 13 humanitarian organisations are calling on the UK government to intensify diplomatic efforts, augment funding - particularly for local and women-led responders - and work with regional partners to support refugees and prevent the conflict from spreading beyond Sudan’s borders.
Chief executive of Christian Aid, Patrick Watt, said the UK has both a moral responsibility and the diplomatic leverage to help de-escalate the crisis.
He pointed to Britain’s role as a “former colonial power and major aid donor,” as well as “penholder” on Sudan at the UN Security Council, arguing that stronger pressure is needed to secure an urgent halt to fighting and unlock humanitarian access.
However, aid charities warn that changes in ministers, cuts to aid budgets and fluctuating priorities have disrupted effective leadership, despite the UK’s unique platform to drive action.
The appeal comes amid mounting evidence of systemic collapse inside Sudan.
Aid groups estimate that nearly 34 million people require immediate support, including over 11 million children, 770,000 of whom are at risk of dying from severe malnutrition.
They report that up to 80% of medical infrastructure are no longer functioning, depriving nearly two-thirds (65%) of the population of dependable medical care.
The conflict has also triggered what charities describe as the world’s worst food emergency, with more than 21 million people experiencing critical food shortages and hunger.
Cuts to international aid budgets have further constrained relief efforts, forcing programmes providing food, healthcare, clean water and protection services to scale back or close.
Women and children are bearing the brunt of the crisis, charities say, with requests for gender-based violence support rising by 288% since late 2023, while women-led organisations have received under 2% of allocations from the critically under-resourced Sudan Humanitarian Fund.
Action Against Hunger in Sudan and Plan International Sudan have said families fleeing violence are arriving at displacement camps exhausted and severely malnourished, often with no access to shelter or clean water.
According to World Vision, camps sheltering over 22,500 internally displaced people in East Darfur are already overcrowded, compounding health and safety risks.
The coalition plans to submit a joint petition to Downing Street in April, marking three years since the war began, and is urging the public to add their names in support of stronger UK action.
Country Director for Action Against Hunger in Sudan Samy Guissebi said: “Sudan cannot be allowed to fade into another forgotten crisis, worse, a neglected one.”
