Sudan War Enters Third Year with No Relief in Sight for Beleaguered Civilians
Sudan’s devastating conflict has now stretched into its third year, offering no light at the end of the tunnel for millions of suffering civilians. The human cost continues to climb, with tens of thousands killed and more than 13 million displaced, fueling what the United Nations describes as the world’s most severe hunger and displacement crisis.
A Snapshot of the Current Situation
The Changing Battle Lines
For the first eighteen months of conflict, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control across western and central Sudan, forcing the national army to retreat eastward, moving the government’s base from Khartoum to Port Sudan along the Red Sea coast.
However, in November 2024, the Sudanese army regained momentum through a decisive offensive, reclaiming much of the central region. In March, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan confidently announced the liberation of Khartoum from the RSF, signaling a significant shift in the conflict dynamics.
Yet the RSF has intensified its focus in the western Darfur region, launching a relentless attack on El-Fasher—the last remaining state capital held by the national army in Darfur. Analysts warn that full RSF control over Darfur would effectively partition Sudan, leaving the army overseeing the north and eastern regions, while the RSF holds dominion in the west and parts of the south.
“The fragmentation unfolding in Sudan is deeply alarming and risks permanent division,” said regional analyst, Sarah Ahmed.
A Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolding
The war has inflicted brutal violence on civilians, highlighting grave human rights abuses committed by both sides. Reliable casualty figures remain elusive; nonetheless, studies suggest harrowing numbers.
A study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine indicates that more than 61,000 people died in Khartoum alone in just over a year of fighting—of these, approximately 26,000 were directly killed by violence.
In May last year, former U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello warned:
“We believe the total death toll could be as high as 150,000 people—a staggering loss that demands immediate global attention.”
Both the RSF and Sudanese army face accusations of deliberately targeting civilians, looting homes, and restricting humanitarian aid deliveries.
The crisis of food insecurity continues to deepen, with famine officially declared across five regions, notably including three major displacement zones in Darfur and parts of southern Sudan. The United Nations currently estimates that about eight million Sudanese citizens teeter on the verge of famine, while 25 million—roughly half the nation’s entire population—now face acute food shortages.
A Shattered Healthcare System
Once fragile, Sudan’s health infrastructure now lies in ruins. Official statistics report nearly 90% of hospitals in regions affected by violence are either severely damaged, captured by armed groups, or abandoned due to shortages of staff, medicine, and equipment.
The Sudanese doctors’ union documented at least 78 health workers killed by gunfire or shelling since the conflict began, with the World Health Organization recording 119 separate attacks against health facilities through last October—violations attributed broadly to both opposing factions.
“Sudan’s collapsing health services are compounding an already appalling humanitarian situation,” emphasized WHO spokesperson, Dr. Mariam Hassan.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
