Tens of thousands of people are fleeing their homes as fighting that has plagued Sudan for more than a year spreads to the southeast of the country.
Violent clashes in Sennar State – one of Sudan’s biggest agricultural regions – began in early July and are increasing the risk of famine across the country.
It is thought that up to 130,000 people have fled Sennar in the past week.
There are growing fears that the fighting is now set to spread further east towards Gedaref – a key hub for humanitarian staff and supplies.
Forced to flee again
Sennar State was previously considered one of the safest parts of the country. Over the past 15 months, hundreds of thousands of civilians had fled there to escape fighting in areas such as Khartoum and Al Jazira.
Many of these people are now having to flee yet again.
Most left their homes without their belongings – many families have nothing to use for shelter and are sleeping under the open sky in heavy rain.

“People are walking for days but there are no paved roads between Sennar and Gedaref and the roads have become muddy and difficult to use,” Mohammad Sorwar, Head of Programmes for Islamic Relief in Sudan, says.
“The war is spreading across the country like a cancer. Many of the people fleeing have been displaced 2, 3, 4 or even more times before this, but the war keeps spreading.
“There are very few safe places left for people to run to. If the fighting reaches Gedaref it will have a devastating impact on aid delivery.”
Disruption in humanitarian responses in Gedaref is being experienced due to feared attacks – many staff members have decided to keep safe at home for fear of exposing themselves to the encroaching violence.
A country in critical condition
Sudan is suffering the world’s largest hunger crisis, with more than 25 million people – over half the country’s population – facing severe hunger and food shortages, and mass starvation predicted to be imminent.
The conflict has forced farmers from their land, destroyed markets and obstructed humanitarian aid.
News outlets are reporting that the Sudanese economy is on the brink of collapse. Much of the health system has destroyed and deadly diseases are spreading.
More than 10 million people are now displaced from their homes within Sudan and are in need of humanitarian support.
Since the conflict started in April 2023, Islamic Relief has worked to provide aid to more than 839,000 people. Many of our staff have become displaced and are facing the same challenges as the communities they support, but remain committed to their humanitarian work.
We’re supporting health centres and nutritional feeding centres that supported malnourished children and pregnant women, and we’ve equipped hospitals and health clinics with critical medical supplies.
We have distributed food packs, agro-produce and seeds to farmers.
We’re providing food, water and cash to displaced people to help them meet their most desperate needs. We have also provided thousands hygiene kits and dignity kits, along with hygiene awareness programmes to improve sanitation conditions for displaced peoples.
Islamic Relief continues to support the people of Sudan in their time of greatest need. Please help us to continue this life-saving work. Donate now.