Responding to the Sudan Regional Crisis

Following the brutal warfare that erupted in Sudan in April 2023, violence, hunger, and disease continue to claim lives every day. This is the largest displacement crisis in the world, yet the humanitarian emergency gripping Sudan remains severely overlooked.  

Watch Dr. Quraish Sserwanja, Deputy Country Director at Relief International Sudan, describe the impact of the war.

With the partnership of our global community, Relief International has continued to work alongside communities in Sudan, as well as neighboring South Sudan and Chad where hundreds of thousands have fled in search of safety, to save lives and help build resilience. In some hard-to-reach areas, we are the only organization providing critical health, nutrition, and psychosocial services. 

Sana, a Relief International community health volunteer, shares her story to impart how support and compassion truly makes a difference: 

“I was only ten years old when war forced my family to flee our home in Sudan. We were ten children from one mother, running on foot as bombardments echoed behind us. There were no vehicles, no medicine, and no water. 

After walking for nearly a month, we reached Foj. For seven days, we survived without food until humanitarian organizations arrived. From there, we were moved to Jamam and finally to Batil camp in Maban, South Sudan.   

For the first time, the bitterness of our journey began to fade. We had water, soap, security, and something we never had before—education. 

As I grew older, a different battle began, this time within my own family. Cultural pressure for early marriage caused me immense stress. The pressure became unbearable, and my mental health collapsed. 

A young man named Musa noticed my suffering and encouraged me to seek help at the hospital. That decision changed my life. There, I met Scovia, a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Officer with Relief International. What followed was a three-year journey of consistent treatment and care. 

Through the support of Relief International’s medical team, I learned how to manage my anger, nourish my body properly, and challenge harmful beliefs that discouraged sick people from eating certain foods. This care saved my life. 

Since 2023, I have been working with Relief International as a Community Health and Nutrition Volunteer. I use my own story to help others, bringing sick children from the community to the hospital and encouraging families to seek care. The community trusts me because they saw me when I was unwell, and they see me now, healthy, committed, and serving with respect.” 

Your support provides women like Sana and her family—and thousands of others affected by war, loss, and conflict in Sudan—with care and services that promote hope, healing, and purpose. Thank you. 

Links:

• Learn more about Relief International's work in Sudan
• Stay updated on Relief International's work across the globe