Update: We’re on the ground

After dealing with the safety and security related concerns for our staff based in Sudan, we’re now able to respond to the crisis in 3 areas: Khartoum State, North Kordofan and Al Jazirah State. We’re focusing our immediate efforts on providing the most urgent relief, including:

• Emergency medicines, medical supplies, and food to affected hospitals.
• Fuel for electric generators in hospitals.
• Food for displaced people and host community.
• Non-food items (NFIs) for displaced people and the host community.
• WASH for displaced people and host community.
• Cash assistance for displaced people and host community.
• Psychosocial support for the displaced people.

Violence Spreads Across Sudan

On April 15, violence erupted in Sudan as rival factions fought for control of the country’s capital. Civilians are bearing the brunt of the fighting as it spreads across the country. Experts report that hundreds of people have been killed, thousands have been wounded, and families are trapped in their homes without food and water. Heavy fighting continues throughout residential areas and close to hospitals.

“The fighting is [ongoing] and we can hear bullets and bombing all around us. Buildings are on fire and smoke fills the sky. People are trapped in their homes and scared about what is going to happen in the coming days. Life is paralyzed, everything is closed and food supplies are running out.

Many of the poorest people [already] don’t have [enough] food, they buy whatever little they can afford each day – and now they can’t even do that. Already critical levels of hunger in the country are now set to get even worse. Millions of people will need aid.”

Elsadig Elnour, Islamic Relief Sudan Country Director

At least four humanitarian aid workers are among those killed and many aid agency offices have been looted, forcing the suspension of vital humanitarian work. Due to instability, we’re limited in our capacity to respond immediately. However, once the situation on the ground has stabilized, banks have resumed operations, and our teams have evaluated the emergency response needed, donations made to the Sudan Humanitarian Aid fund will be used to support aid efforts. 

Act now, and as soon as we can mobilise, we can put your donations to work.

Focus on Sudan

Political instability, socioeconomic crisis, and food insecurity affect nearly a quarter of the population in Sudan. At least 3 million children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition. Violence and intercommunal clashes have also contributed to high numbers of internal and cross-border displacements. In some areas, schools have become temporary shelters, disrupting children’s education. At least 14.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Islamic Relief’s Dedication to Sudan

​​Islamic Relief’s first humanitarian response in Sudan was in response to the famine in 1984, where we provided vital food aid to people in need. Since then, our focus has been on long-term development assistance to help pull vulnerable communities out of the cycle of poverty. 

A few of our interventions include:

• Access to healthcare and education
• Qurbani+ (Plus), an initiative that seeks to increase the income of families by partnering with them in an Islamic microfinance livelihood program connected to Eid al-Adha
• Orphan care
• Humanitarian aid for internally displaced people and returnees, and other vulnerable populations  
• Emergency aid for flood-affected families including access to clean water and sustainable livelihood support