Sudan Conflict Drives Massive Humanitarian Crisis, US Aid Cuts Deepen Shortfall

The ongoing civil war in Sudan has created one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, displacing 11 million people internally and forcing 4 million refugees abroad, with famine confirmed in several locations. The United Nations reports that 60% of Sudan's population—around 30 million people—require assistance amid escalating violence, displacement, and worsening conditions due to the rainy season. Heavy fighting in North Darfur's capital, El Fasher, has resulted in civilian casualties and further displacement, while access for humanitarian operations remains highly constrained. Funding gaps, exacerbated by the recent shuttering of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and a major U.S. aid funding reduction, have left critical needs unmet and aid organizations struggling to fill the void. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized a new policy focusing on targeted, time-limited aid aligned with American interests, which critics warn has worsened humanitarian conditions on the ground. Broadly, this crisis reflects a larger pattern of underfunded and overlooked humanitarian emergencies in Africa, where conflicts and climate shocks drive displacement but receive limited global media attention and funding.