The situation in Darfur is catastrophic. Civilians are being deliberately targeted, children are dying from hunger, and humanitarian aid is being blocked. Faced with this extreme emergency, civil society is calling on the international community to act without delay. Urgent funding, secure humanitarian access, and the protection of civilians are essential. Every hour of inaction puts thousands of lives at risk. Solidarity must translate into action.

The humanitarian situation in Darfur, Sudan, has reached critical levels. Since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized El Fasher, nearly 20,000 people – mostly women and children – have fled to Chad to escape widespread violence, ethnically motivated killings, sexual violence, and forced recruitment. Families who manage to cross the border arrive exhausted, traumatized, and extremely vulnerable. According to UNHCR, more than 7,500 families are currently registered along the Chadian border, with refugee arrivals continuing at an average of 250 people per day.

The food and health crisis is worsening at an alarming rate. A UNICEF survey in Um Baru reveals that more than half of children under five suffer from acute malnutrition, with nearly one in five experiencing severe acute malnutrition, posing an immediate threat to their survival. Hospitals and medical facilities face critical shortages of supplies, while humanitarian convoys have been stalled near conflict zones for several months. Ongoing violence, economic collapse, and ethnic tensions severely restrict humanitarian access and hinder relief efforts.

Civil society organizations are closely monitoring developments on the ground, and their assessments confirm the dramatic scale of the crisis sometimes indicating even higher figures than those reported by international agencies. According to these findings, the actual number of displaced families may exceed official estimates, and child malnutrition rates in some isolated areas have reached catastrophic levels, requiring immediate and large-scale intervention. The ADH reaffirms its solidarity with the Sudanese people and its commitment to supporting humanitarian efforts, while urgently calling on the international community to respond to this critical situation.

In the face of this catastrophe, the ADH urges the international community to act swiftly and in a coordinated manner to protect civilians and address the urgent needs of displaced populations. We call on Member States, humanitarian agencies, and international organizations to ensure adequate and immediate funding, maintain safe humanitarian corridors, support nutrition and health programs for children, and press all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law.

The ADH expresses its full solidarity with the Sudanese people and local civil society actors who, despite immense risks, continue to support displaced families and protect the most vulnerable. We call on humanitarian actors, governments, and the international community to support these local initiatives and recognize the central role of civil society in the crisis response. The Sudanese diaspora also has a crucial role to play by mobilizing financial resources, raising awareness among governments and international organizations, and amplifying the voices of affected populations on the global stage. Through cooperation and solidarity, we can strengthen humanitarian efforts and save lives in this unprecedented emergency.

Recommendations from Civil Society to the International Community:

1. Ensure emergency funding for the delivery of food, water, medicine, and medical assistance to affected areas.

2. Strengthen the protection of civilians – especially women and children – against violence and forced recruitment.

3. Guarantee safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all affected and currently inaccessible areas.

4. Support vaccination programs, pediatric care, and treatment for acute malnutrition.

5. Strengthen coordination among NGOs, UN agencies, and local authorities to maximize the effectiveness of aid.

Every day without action endangers the lives of thousands of innocent children and families. The international community must respond urgently to save lives and restore dignity to the people of Darfur.