Why Are Civilians Still Suffering in Darfur Amid Sudan’s Conflict?

After more than a year of relentless conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), civilians in Darfur remain trapped in an unending cycle of violence, hunger, and displacement. Despite international attention and repeated calls for action, the region’s people face daily threats to their lives and livelihoods. “Violence, insecurity and hunger are devastating people’s lives in South Darfur, Sudan,” Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported in June 2025, highlighting a stark lack of protection and assistance for those caught in the crossfire. 

The collapse of basic services, destruction of hospitals and infrastructure, and the breakdown of humanitarian operations have left millions with nowhere to turn. Even as ground fighting in some areas has eased, insecurity persists: civilians are subjected to attacks on roads, in markets, and even in their own homes, while air strikes and drone attacks continue to claim lives and destroy what little remains of critical infrastructure. Arbitrary detention, looting, and the constant threat of violence have become the new normal for Darfur’s communities. In this analysis, we examine the root causes and ongoing dynamics that keep civilians in Darfur suffering, despite the world’s awareness of their plight.

The Scale of Displacement and Humanitarian Need

Unprecedented Internal Displacement

Sudan now has the world’s highest number of internally displaced people, with over 10.8 million uprooted from their homes. “Over 8.1 million people have been displaced since the conflict reignited in 2023, with Darfur accounting for a significant share of this suffering,” according to UN agencies and humanitarian organizations. Many Darfuris have been forced to flee multiple times, seeking safety in overcrowded camps or across borders.

Famine and Food Insecurity

The food crisis in Darfur is dire. “Over 25 million people across Sudan face acute food insecurity, with confirmed famine in Darfur’s largest displacement camp as of August 2024 and famine looming in other regions,” reports the World Food Programme. Humanitarian funding shortfalls—only about half of the response plan is financed—have left millions without access to life-saving aid.

Health System Collapse and Disease Outbreaks

Children’s Crisis

Children are among the most vulnerable. 

“More than 17 million children are out of school, and children under five are especially at risk, as seen in the cholera outbreak with over 1,000 infections among this age group in Khartoum state alone since January 2025,” 

UNICEF warns.

Cholera Epidemic

The health system’s collapse has fueled a deadly cholera epidemic.

 “Nearly 60,000 cholera cases and over 1,640 deaths have been recorded across 12 states since August 2024,” 

according to the World Health Organization. Khartoum state alone reported over 7,700 cases and 185 deaths since January 2025, with daily cases spiking above 800 in May.

Humanitarian Access Under Attack

Aid Convoy Ambushes

Delivering aid in Darfur is perilous. 

“On June 3, 2025, an ambush on a 15-truck UN humanitarian convoy near Koma, North Darfur, killed five aid workers and destroyed trucks carrying vital nutrition supplies,” 

reports Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). This was the first attempted delivery to Al Fasher in over a year, and its failure further isolates hundreds of thousands in urgent need.

Systematic Attacks on Healthcare

Attacks on hospitals are routine. 

“The RSF attacked the MSF-supported South Hospital in El Fasher multiple times between May and June 2025, killing patients and forcing its closure—a war crime under international law,” 

MSF stated. With hospitals destroyed or shuttered, civilians have little access to medical care.

Violence, Abuses, and War Crimes

Widespread Atrocities

Both the SAF and RSF have committed widespread violations. “The RSF and allies committed widespread unlawful killings, including mass executions, sexual violence, targeted civilian property, and repeatedly used heavy explosive weapons in densely populated areas,” Human Rights Watch reported. “The SAF and allied forces indiscriminately bombed populated areas and deliberately destroyed civilian infrastructure, committed acts of sexual violence and summary executions, torture of detainees, and mutilated bodies.”

Villages Burned and Sieges Imposed

The RSF and allied militias have burned at least 43 villages near El Fasher, imposed sieges, and carried out mass killings and looting. The SAF’s tactics have included indiscriminate airstrikes and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, further compounding the suffering.

International Response and Sanctions

Sanctions and Diplomatic Pressure

The international community has imposed sanctions in response to the atrocities. “The US and EU have imposed sanctions on entities and individuals fueling the conflict. The UK sanctioned six entities. The UN and African Union have passed resolutions calling for civilian protection, but no protection force has been deployed yet,” according to official statements.

Calls for Civilian Protection

The African Union Peace and Security Council, in May 2025, requested the development of a civilian protection strategy. In June 2025, the UN Security Council tasked the Secretary-General with providing options for civilian protection. “The UN and African Union have called for civilian protection, but as of June 2025, no international force has been deployed,” humanitarian agencies report.

Impunity and Accountability

Lack of Justice

Both parties to the conflict act with impunity. “The ICC and the UN Fact-Finding Mission continue investigations, but justice remains elusive,” say international legal observers. The ICC’s ongoing investigations into war crimes in Darfur have yet to yield prosecutions or meaningful accountability.

Civilian Suffering and Daily Realities

Displacement Camps and Famine

Displacement camps like those in Al Fasher and Zamzam are overwhelmed. “The siege and ongoing violence have led to famine conditions and acute malnutrition,” aid workers report. Civilians face repeated shelling, burning of homes, and attacks on health facilities. In one incident, a volunteer-run emergency clinic in Abu Shouk camp was hit by mortar fire, injuring several, including a child.

Destruction of Communities

Thousands of houses have been burned, and entire neighborhoods have been destroyed. Civilians are forced to flee again and again, often with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Summary Table: Darfur Conflict Impact (2024-2025)

Indicator	Statistic/Fact
Internally Displaced Persons	10.8 million (8.1 million since 2023)
Acute Food Insecurity	25+ million affected
Children Out of School	17+ million
Cholera Cases (Aug 2024–Apr 2025)	60,000+ cases, 1,640+ deaths (12 states)
Villages Burned (El Fasher area)	43+
Humanitarian Convoy Attack	5 aid workers killed, trucks destroyed (June 2025)
Famine	Confirmed in Darfur’s largest displacement camp (Aug 2024)
Attacks on Hospitals	Multiple, including MSF South Hospital (forced closure, deaths)
Sanctions/International Action	US, EU, UK sanctions; UN/AU resolutions (no force deployed)

Darfur’s civilians are enduring one of the world’s gravest humanitarian crises. Mass displacement, famine, disease, and systematic violence are the daily reality for millions. Both the SAF and RSF are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, yet impunity persists. Humanitarian access is perilously limited, and international efforts to protect civilians have yet to yield tangible results. As the conflict continues, the people of Darfur remain trapped in a cycle of violence, deprivation, and neglect, desperately in need of global attention and action.