The latest report from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) paints a dire picture of the current situation in South Darfur, Sudan. Violence, insecurity, and hunger have gripped the region, affecting countless lives.
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“Voices from South Darfur,” the new report, offers a deeply human perspective on how relentless violence, a crippled healthcare system, and an inadequate global response have stretched the resilience of the local population to its breaking point.
“Through personal stories, we see not just the anguish and cruelty endured by communities, but also their resilience and empathy,” states Ozan Agbas, MSF’s emergency manager for Sudan.
“With civilian protection dissipated and humanitarian aid insufficient, the people of South Darfur are pleading to be heard, to receive attention, and for decisive action.”
In 2023, South Darfur experienced severe urban warfare that ravaged hospitals and essential infrastructure. The humanitarian network, once significant before the civil war erupted in April that year, collapsed amid the chaos. Though active fighting has ceased, insecurity lingers, as individuals are exposed to harrowing violence on roads, in marketplaces, and even within their homes. Incidents of arrest, theft, and looting are frequently reported. The area continues to suffer from air and drone strikes.
Sexual violence remains prevalent. MSF provided care to 659 survivors between January 2024 and March 2025, over half of whom were assaulted by non-civilians.
A poignant testimony from a 25-year-old woman living in a displacement camp exposes the risks faced daily. “When we venture beyond the camp to farm… they will beat us, torture us… It’s unsafe to go out. My cousin was raped by six men just days ago… I feel vulnerable; if I leave, I could be raped.”
Fear and anxiety amongst children are palpable, leaving them trapped in a cycle of helplessness and indignity.
Another heart-wrenching account comes from a 21-year-old displaced woman in Beleil locality, “Our farms are obliterated – we have absolutely nothing. My husband was murdered four months ago. We are left with nothing,” she confides. “I haven’t had a morsel to eat for days… I dread returning home, fearful of meeting the same fate as my husband.”
The crumbling healthcare system further exacerbates the crisis. With facilities destroyed, abandoned, or lacking resources, healthcare workers have fled, and medical supplies are either scarce or disrupted. The lack of transport further hinders access to whatever care is available.
Violence and hunger are inextricably linked; restricted access to farmland has slashed incomes. Over 10,000 acutely malnourished children under five, along with countless pregnant and breastfeeding women, have been treated by MSF from January 2024 to March 2025. Unfortunately, the malnutrition crisis is anticipated to worsen with the onset of the rainy and lean seasons.
Many families subsist on a single daily meal due to spiraling food costs. “I live day by day,” shares a 24-year-old resident of Al-Salam displacement camp. “When there’s something to eat, we eat. Otherwise, we endure hunger. This is the life I know.”
The international response, in stark contrast, has been lackluster. Reports from as late as November 2024 echo this sentiment. A 23-year-old woman in Nyala laments, “We hear that international bodies extend aid, but we’ve seen none ourselves.”
Encouragingly, there are signs of progress, as UN agencies endeavor to channel humanitarian supplies into South Darfur. Though nonprofits are cautiously expanding their presence and operations, access remains heavily restricted, with UN agencies still unable to establish a ground presence more than two years since the conflict began.
Within these challenging circumstances, communities collaborate in both small and meaningful ways. Neighbors share scarce resources, young people work together to clear debris and purchase medicine for displaced individuals, and teachers volunteer in stripped-down buildings. MSF has backed these local efforts, empowering community kitchens, facilitating school meals, and aiding voluntary health posts. Facilities and water supplies have been revitalized, and 6,000 families received sustenance through MSF initiatives across the state.
These community-driven programs showcase the extraordinary potential of determination and innovation. “Local organizations possess the expertise to deliver crucial services,” Agbas notes. “When we provide these frontline responders with resources and authority, we can significantly impact lives.”
The revelations and medical data within “Voices from South Darfur” are a culmination of MSF’s operations from January 2024 through March 2025.
– Edited By Ali Musa, Axadle Times International–Monitoring
