It has been 2 years now since the horrific conflict erupted in Sudan. The fighting has spread from Khartoum to all areas of the country, creating one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises, with millions of people forced to flee their homes. Najah Almugahed, gender inclusion and protection advisor for Islamic Relief, describes her recent experience in Sudan.

What I witnessed in Sudan in February 2025 was devastating. As a Yemeni, I am no stranger to crises, which have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. However, what I experienced in Sudan is beyond words. People’s lives have been turned upside down.

An estimated 13 million people have been forcibly displaced – nearly one-fifth of the entire population. Some have called it the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.

Yet, the visible suffering is only a fraction of the reality. In Gedaref state in southwestern Sudan, we visited massive displacement camps hosting those who fled from Khartoum and other conflict-affected areas. These camps can only accommodate less than 20% of the displaced population, with the vast majority left to rely on support from their families.

To put this into perspective, up to 5 families, each averaging 5 members, including parents, children, grandparents, and sometimes grandchildren have been crammed into a single house for nearly 2 years.

It is estimated that two-thirds of Sudan’s population require humanitarian assistance – including shelter, water, food, and healthcare. Protection needs have skyrocketed, but are difficult to quantify.

A staggering indicator is that the Sudan Protection Cluster has reported a 400% increase in the provision of gender-based violence (GBV) specialised services since the beginning of the crisis. This suggests an alarming surge in violence, particularly sexual violence. These specialised services include case management, psychosocial support, and emergency health kits.

Community and localised action

Unfortunately, crises are not new to Sudan. I still remember when the Darfur conflict made global headlines in 2004. Since then, the country has faced ongoing unrest, with the eruption of war in April 2023. This long history of conflict has created unique forms of resilience and humanitarian response mechanisms. These are largely led by local initiatives created and managed by community members.

Islamic Relief’s community kitchen project in Khartoum is a typical example of these grassroots initiatives. Community kitchens became the lifeline in the early days of the crisis and remain integral to daily survival. They enabled Islamic Relief to provide basic services and food in areas where it had no official presence.

Most community kitchens are also led by women, who not only cook but also risk their lives to go to the market and buy supplies to prepare meals for themselves, their families and their communities.

As we visited these projects, I realised the power of community led initiatives, and being present in hard-to-reach areas. We visited an agricultural project in a remote area in Galabat near the Ethiopian border – a place where no other organisation operates.

This project, initiated over a decade ago, supports farmers by providing essential resources for growing crops and accessing water. To this day, it continues to yield sustainable benefits for the community.

From Sudan to Geneva

During the Humanitarian Partnership and Networking Week in Geneva, which took place in March 2025, Islamic Relief and Norwegian Church Aid co-hosted a panel discussion titled Sudan War: Expanding Civic Space through Localised and Community-Centered Humanitarian Response. The session explored the interconnectedness of humanitarian efforts and the broader civic space in Sudan, highlighting how locally led responses are vital.

A diverse range of responders are working to deliver aid in Sudan, which includes both UN-led organisations and international non-governmental organisations. While they play a crucial role in humanitarian response it is the local civil society groups and mutual aid networks that have been at the forefront of response – especially in areas beyond the reach of international actors. These locally led efforts often go unrecognised, despite their commitment and impact in delivering aid where it is needed most.

A key takeaway from the discussion was the importance of coordination among locally led initiatives. Working with community members is not just a means to an end to ensure aid reaches to those in need, but also an end in itself. It recognises the strength that exists within the community and the power of mobilising resources. More importantly, it shifts power to those affected by crises in deciding how and where they want the response to occur.

The social and political spectrum is rapidly changing in Sudan. At the time of writing, news is circulating that Khartoum has been recaptured. With more returnees expected, we must closely monitor the evolving needs of the community and ensure that localisation efforts are adapted to meet these shifting realities.

When panel participants were asked what headline they would give to Sudan’s crisis,  a single word resonated throughout the room – solidarity. It is a deeply ingrained force in Sudanese culture – a force that drives families to open their homes to displaced people, to share their food, to protect those in need.

Islamic Relief has been working in Sudan since 1984, providing emergency relief, healthcare, food and shelter to vulnerable communities. Please support our life-saving work by donating to our Sudan Emergency Appeal today.