The International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued an urgent warning on Thursday, highlighting the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan as its civil war enters its third year.

The agency called for immediate international action to avert regional destabilization across the Horn of Africa.

Since fighting erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), over 11.3 million people have been displaced. This includes 8.6 million uprooted within Sudan over the past two years and 3.9 million who have fled to neighboring countries like Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, overwhelming these fragile states.

“The war has pushed Sudan to the brink,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “Thousands have died, families are shattered, and millions face starvation, disease, and economic collapse.” Pope noted that some displaced families are returning to devastated communities, underscoring the need for both immediate aid and long-term recovery efforts.

IOM reports that 30 million people—two-thirds of Sudan’s population—require urgent assistance. The situation is particularly critical in Darfur, where the upcoming rainy season threatens to disrupt relief efforts. Despite providing shelter, water, sanitation, and healthcare to nearly four million people, IOM’s 2025 response plan is only 10% funded.

Without rapid financial support, the agency warns that its operations, including displacement tracking and lifesaving services, could stall, potentially worsening instability in the region. “The people of Sudan cannot afford to be kept waiting,” Pope urged, calling for a unified global response to ensure Sudan is not forgotten.

The ongoing conflict, with no resolution in sight, has cemented Sudan’s crisis as one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent history. (ILKHA)