THE SITUATION
Since April 2023, a brutal civil war between rival military forces has plunged Sudan into chaos, creating the world’s largest humanitarian emergency—and one of the most overlooked.
The violent conflict has killed thousands of civilians, forced over 12 million people to flee their homes, destroyed critical infrastructure, and decimated food production and supply lines. Nearly 25 million people—approximately half the country’s population—are facing acute hunger or famine.
The collapse of the health care and sanitation systems, along with soaring rates of malnutrition, has led to rapid outbreaks of preventable diseases. Sudan’s Ministry of Health reported over 60,000 cases of cholera, a deadly disease primarily spread through contaminated water, between August 2024 and May 2025.
The crisis has had particularly devastating consequences for women and girls. Sexual violence has reportedly been used as a weapon of war, while displacement, economic desperation, and the breakdown of social protections have dramatically increased the risk of trafficking, exploitation, and abuse. With maternal health services largely dismantled, pregnancy and childbirth have become increasingly life-threatening for many.
In total, over 30 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance both inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries where many have sought refuge.
Help CARE immediately respond to emergencies and prepare communities for potential disasters.
HOW WE ARE RESPONDING
CARE is providing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) support, as well as cash assistance. We are also delivering life-saving health services (including maternal and reproductive care) and working to prevent gender-based violence, with operational offices in East and South Darfur, South Kordofan, Kassala, Gedaref, Gezira, Khartoum, and Red Sea (Port Sudan). Along with our local partners, we’re working with women so they can protect themselves, their families and their communities.
