People who have fled El Fasher arrive in Tawila in North Darfur, Sudan. Photo Credit: UNOCHA
March 13, 2026
By Dr. Majid Rafizadeh
As the devastating conflict in Sudan approaches the start of its fourth year, the international community is facing an urgent problem. The war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has evolved into one of the gravest humanitarian catastrophes of this century.
However, despite the immense scale of destruction and the suffering that the Sudanese population is enduring, the war has long been overshadowed by other global crises.
Millions of civilians in Sudan are enduring displacement, hunger, violence and the collapse of essential services. As a result, it is imperative that the international community gives adequate attention to Sudan and intensifies efforts to end the conflict. This requires sustained diplomatic engagement and expanded humanitarian aid.
What began as a power struggle within Sudan’s military establishment rapidly transformed into a nationwide conflict that has engulfed major cities, destroyed critical infrastructure and fractured the already fragile political order.
The capital, Khartoum, has become one of the principal battlegrounds, but violence has also spread across multiple regions of the country, including the already volatile area of Darfur. As the conflict intensified, Sudan’s state institutions began to collapse, leaving large portions of the population without effective governance, security or access to basic services.
The humanitarian consequences of the war have been catastrophic and continue to worsen. Millions of civilians have been forced to flee their homes, producing one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Vast numbers of families have sought refuge within Sudan’s borders, while others have crossed into neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan and Egypt.
This mass movement of people has placed enormous strain on fragile regional systems and humanitarian infrastructures. Camps for the displaced are overcrowded and under-resourced, while host communities struggle to accommodate the influx of refugees fleeing violence and insecurity.
The collapse of Sudan’s healthcare system is one of the most critical issues to address. Hospitals have reportedly been destroyed or abandoned, medical personnel have fled conflict zones and the supply of lifesaving medicines has been severely disrupted. In many regions, healthcare facilities are no longer operational, leaving civilians without access to treatment for injuries, infectious diseases or chronic conditions.
At the same time, there are widespread food shortages because agricultural production has declined, markets have collapsed and supply routes have become increasingly dangerous. As a result, large segments of the population are facing severe food insecurity, with humanitarian organizations warning of the risk of widespread famine in several regions.
Another facet of the conflict is the human cost, which is particularly devastating for vulnerable people, including children and women. Millions of children have been deprived of education as schools have been destroyed, closed or repurposed as shelters for displaced families. In addition, malnutrition among children has risen sharply.
Women and girls face heightened risks of violence, exploitation and displacement, especially in areas where law enforcement institutions have effectively ceased to function. This is likely to create a lost generation shaped by war, deprivation and the absence of stable institutions.
It is alarming that despite the magnitude of this humanitarian catastrophe, the war in Sudan has often received limited attention from the international media and global leadership. This means Sudan’s tragedy risks becoming a forgotten war.
The consequences of neglecting the Sudan war could be severe. Prolonged instability in Sudan carries serious implications for the broader region, including the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, where fragile political systems and economic vulnerabilities already pose significant challenges. Continued conflict could also exacerbate refugee flows, fuel cross-border insecurity and deepen regional instability.
Some diplomatic initiatives have emerged in an effort to halt the fighting and create a pathway toward a political settlement. Among the most viable and notable efforts is the diplomatic framework advanced by a group of countries commonly referred to as the “Quad” — Saudi Arabia, the US, Egypt and the UAE.
This is a practical and viable initiative because it represents an important attempt to coordinate regional and international diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a broader political transition. By bringing together key regional stakeholders and global powers, the Quad framework aims to encourage negotiations between the warring factions and establish conditions conducive to peace.
One of its most important pillars is recognizing that the Sudan conflict cannot be resolved through military means alone. As a result, it is focusing on a phased process that would begin with a humanitarian ceasefire, allowing aid organizations to deliver urgently needed assistance to civilians trapped in conflict zones.
Such a pause is important because it could create space for broader negotiations aimed at establishing a permanent ceasefire and initiating a transitional political process. The final objective of these efforts is to facilitate the emergence of a civilian-led political order capable of restoring stability and governance in Sudan.
In a nutshell, as the third year of this devastating conflict draws to a close, there is an urgent need for the international community to act. The suffering of millions of civilians demands a sustained global response that combines humanitarian assistance with diplomatic engagement. Renewed diplomatic initiatives such as the Quad framework, combined with the leadership of regional institutions like the African Union, can offer viable pathways toward peace.
By Dr. Majid Rafizadeh
As the devastating conflict in Sudan approaches the start of its fourth year, the international community is facing an urgent problem. The war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has evolved into one of the gravest humanitarian catastrophes of this century.
However, despite the immense scale of destruction and the suffering that the Sudanese population is enduring, the war has long been overshadowed by other global crises.
Millions of civilians in Sudan are enduring displacement, hunger, violence and the collapse of essential services. As a result, it is imperative that the international community gives adequate attention to Sudan and intensifies efforts to end the conflict. This requires sustained diplomatic engagement and expanded humanitarian aid.
What began as a power struggle within Sudan’s military establishment rapidly transformed into a nationwide conflict that has engulfed major cities, destroyed critical infrastructure and fractured the already fragile political order.
The capital, Khartoum, has become one of the principal battlegrounds, but violence has also spread across multiple regions of the country, including the already volatile area of Darfur. As the conflict intensified, Sudan’s state institutions began to collapse, leaving large portions of the population without effective governance, security or access to basic services.
The humanitarian consequences of the war have been catastrophic and continue to worsen. Millions of civilians have been forced to flee their homes, producing one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Vast numbers of families have sought refuge within Sudan’s borders, while others have crossed into neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan and Egypt.
This mass movement of people has placed enormous strain on fragile regional systems and humanitarian infrastructures. Camps for the displaced are overcrowded and under-resourced, while host communities struggle to accommodate the influx of refugees fleeing violence and insecurity.
The collapse of Sudan’s healthcare system is one of the most critical issues to address. Hospitals have reportedly been destroyed or abandoned, medical personnel have fled conflict zones and the supply of lifesaving medicines has been severely disrupted. In many regions, healthcare facilities are no longer operational, leaving civilians without access to treatment for injuries, infectious diseases or chronic conditions.
At the same time, there are widespread food shortages because agricultural production has declined, markets have collapsed and supply routes have become increasingly dangerous. As a result, large segments of the population are facing severe food insecurity, with humanitarian organizations warning of the risk of widespread famine in several regions.
Another facet of the conflict is the human cost, which is particularly devastating for vulnerable people, including children and women. Millions of children have been deprived of education as schools have been destroyed, closed or repurposed as shelters for displaced families. In addition, malnutrition among children has risen sharply.
Women and girls face heightened risks of violence, exploitation and displacement, especially in areas where law enforcement institutions have effectively ceased to function. This is likely to create a lost generation shaped by war, deprivation and the absence of stable institutions.
It is alarming that despite the magnitude of this humanitarian catastrophe, the war in Sudan has often received limited attention from the international media and global leadership. This means Sudan’s tragedy risks becoming a forgotten war.
The consequences of neglecting the Sudan war could be severe. Prolonged instability in Sudan carries serious implications for the broader region, including the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, where fragile political systems and economic vulnerabilities already pose significant challenges. Continued conflict could also exacerbate refugee flows, fuel cross-border insecurity and deepen regional instability.
Some diplomatic initiatives have emerged in an effort to halt the fighting and create a pathway toward a political settlement. Among the most viable and notable efforts is the diplomatic framework advanced by a group of countries commonly referred to as the “Quad” — Saudi Arabia, the US, Egypt and the UAE.
This is a practical and viable initiative because it represents an important attempt to coordinate regional and international diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire and a broader political transition. By bringing together key regional stakeholders and global powers, the Quad framework aims to encourage negotiations between the warring factions and establish conditions conducive to peace.
One of its most important pillars is recognizing that the Sudan conflict cannot be resolved through military means alone. As a result, it is focusing on a phased process that would begin with a humanitarian ceasefire, allowing aid organizations to deliver urgently needed assistance to civilians trapped in conflict zones.
Such a pause is important because it could create space for broader negotiations aimed at establishing a permanent ceasefire and initiating a transitional political process. The final objective of these efforts is to facilitate the emergence of a civilian-led political order capable of restoring stability and governance in Sudan.
In a nutshell, as the third year of this devastating conflict draws to a close, there is an urgent need for the international community to act. The suffering of millions of civilians demands a sustained global response that combines humanitarian assistance with diplomatic engagement. Renewed diplomatic initiatives such as the Quad framework, combined with the leadership of regional institutions like the African Union, can offer viable pathways toward peace.
This article was published at Arab News
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh
Dr. Majid Rafizadeh is a Harvard-educated Iranian-American political scientist. X: @Dr_Rafizadeh
