More than 2 years into one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, Sudan falls deeper into crisis by the day. The fall of El Fasher marks another dark chapter in a conflict that has already claimed countless lives.

Videos, photos, and eyewitness accounts from the city are unbearable to witness; streets lined with lifeless bodies, families trapped without food or shelter, and children facing unimaginable suffering.

Starvation has become one of the conflict’s most devastating weapons. Across the country, families go without food for days at a time. Mothers are forced to watch their children waste away from malnutrition, their cries echoing in homes stripped bare by violence and displacement. 

And yet, the international community continues to look away, with fleeting media coverage, inadequate humanitarian responses, and a lack of political will.

Amid this silence, there remains buried a remarkable story of resilience.

In neighbourhoods across the country, Sudanese communities have built networks of care and survival. At the heart of these efforts are takaaya – community kitchens established and ran by local volunteers who function as frontline responders.

These kitchens are more than just a source of food; they are a symbol of collective resistance, dignity, and hope. Volunteers, often facing hunger and danger themselves, work tirelessly in these kitchens to feed their neighbours with minimal resources, powered largely by contributions from the Sudanese diaspora.

Those funds are running out, however. With so many funding cuts, the future of the takaaya hangs by a thread. Many in Darfur have already been forced to close their doors.

“I want people to know that Sudan is still here. We are not just statistics or headlines. Every person has a name, a story, a life that mattered before this conflict and will matter after. We young Sudanese people aren’t passive, we are very active, we organise, we are part of the volunteers, we try to keep our families going. We don’t want to wait for someone to save us, insha’Allah we will get Sudan back.”

Ibrahim, 24-year-old takaaya volunteer

Takaaya: How community kitchens offer a local lifeline to Sudan’s hunger crisis is a new report by Islamic Relief Worldwide that sheds light on these vital local efforts. It draws on interviews with non-governmental organisation workers, diaspora organisers, and takaaya volunteers from some of the most inaccessible regions of Sudan, including North Kordofan and Darfur. The report reveals the courage and ingenuity sustaining families in the face of starvation and violent conflict.

The message is clear: We must act now. Supporting and funding these community-led kitchens is one tangible way to show our solidarity. Islamic Relief is working in partnership with the takaaya in places such as North Kordofan to support communities that are suffering some of the worst consequences of the crisis. Every takaaya that stays open is another community that lives to see another day. The people of Sudan have not given up, and neither can we.

While we continue to call for action in Sudan, help Islamic Relief to continue supporting people in desperate need in of aid. Donate to our Sudan Emergency Appeal today.