This month marks two years since the start of the civil war in Sudan.
A Nation in Ruins: Collapsed Infrastructure
What began as a power struggle between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has turned into one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history. The war has left Sudan in ruins, destroying its infrastructure, economy, and healthcare system while inflicting immense suffering on its people. Millions have been forced to flee their homes, famine looms, and neighboring countries struggle to cope with the influx of refugees.
The war has reduced Sudan’s infrastructure to rubble, leaving behind a barely functioning state. In Khartoum, Omdurman, and other major cities, essential services like water, electricity, and telecommunications have been severely disrupted. Schools and universities have been destroyed or turned into makeshift military posts, depriving an entire generation of Sudanese children of education. Roads and bridges have been bombed or blocked, isolating entire communities. The banking system has collapsed, and many businesses have either shut down or relocated abroad.
Economically, Sudan is in freefall. The destruction of key industries, including agriculture and manufacturing, has left millions without livelihoods. Farmers have been forced off their land due to violence, worsening food shortages. Inflation has skyrocketed, making even basic necessities unaffordable.
According to UN estimates, over 60% of Sudan’s population now lives below the poverty line, with no clear plan for economic recovery unless the war ends. Sudan’s economic collapse is not just a national crisis — it poses a direct threat to regional stability, as economic desperation often fuels violence, crime, and further instability.
A Healthcare System on the Brink
Sudan’s healthcare system, already fragile before the war, is now in complete disarray. Hospitals and medical facilities have been bombed, looted, or converted into military bases. In Khartoum alone, nearly half of all hospitals have been damaged, leaving millions without access to emergency care. Medical supplies are running out, forcing doctors to perform surgeries without anesthesia or proper sterilization. The lack of medicine has led to a surge in preventable deaths, particularly among children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Diseases like cholera, malaria, and dengue fever are spreading rapidly due to poor sanitation and the destruction of water infrastructure. Malnutrition is also taking a devastating toll, with millions of children starving. Aid organizations have repeatedly warned that without immediate intervention, Sudan could face one of the worst health crises of the 21st century. However, humanitarian groups face immense challenges in delivering aid due to ongoing violence and bureaucratic restrictions imposed by the warring factions.
A Staggering Humanitarian Catastrophe
The scale of human suffering in Sudan is staggering. Over 26 million people urgently need humanitarian assistance, with at least 12 million internally displaced. Entire families have fled their homes, often with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Many now live in overcrowded camps, lacking food, clean water, and medical care. The World Food Programme has warned that Sudan is on the brink of famine, with millions at risk of starvation in the coming months.
Refugees and Regional Instability
The war in Sudan has also triggered one of the largest refugee crises in recent memory. Nearly 1 million Sudanese have fled to neighboring countries, including Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the Central African Republic. These nations—many already struggling with economic hardship and internal instability—are straining under the pressure of the refugee influx. Camps are overcrowded, underfunded, and lacking basic necessities like food, water, and medical supplies.
In Chad, the refugee crisis has placed enormous strain on local resources, leading to tensions. Without significant international support, Sudan’s refugee crisis could destabilize the entire region, sparking new conflicts and further displacement.
A War Without Winners
The conflict in Sudan is yet another reminder of the devastating consequences of civil war. There are no winners—only death, destruction, and suffering. Sudanese people, who once hoped for a better future, are now trapped in an endless cycle of violence and despair. History shows that civil wars rarely lead to lasting political solutions. Instead, they leave deep scars that take generations to heal. The longer the war continues, the harder it will be to rebuild Sudan. The world must recognize that allowing this conflict to persist will only lead to greater instability, more deaths, and untold suffering.
What Can Be Done? Pathways to Peace
The international community cannot afford to stand by. The first and most urgent step must be a ceasefire to halt the violence and open humanitarian corridors. Pressure must be applied to both warring factions to engage in negotiations, with regional and global powers playing a key role in mediation.
At the same time, the international community must ramp up financial and logistical support for humanitarian efforts. The UN, African Union, and donor nations must ensure that pledged aid actually reaches those in need. Many promises have gone unfulfilled, leaving millions without food, water, or medical care. The longer aid is delayed, the more lives will be lost.
To achieve lasting peace, the international community must work closely with the African Union and Sudan’s neighbors. With proper support, African-led peace initiatives could lay the groundwork for long-term stability. The Jeddah Declaration, which previously served as a negotiation platform for Sudanese factions, should be revived and expanded. Diplomacy must take precedence over military action.
A Call to Action
It is a tragic reality that in the supposedly civilized 21st century, Sudan has been plunged into a deadly war that has turned a once-prosperous nation into ruins in just two years. Millions have been displaced, thousands have died, and an entire nation teeters on the brink of collapse. The suffering of the Sudanese people can no longer be ignored. The international community must act—not just in words, but in deeds. A ceasefire must be secured, humanitarian aid must flow, and diplomatic efforts must intensify to end this brutal conflict.
Many policymakers agree that ending the war requires, first and foremost, a sustainable ceasefire brokered through international mediation (UN, African Union, Arab League). The Sudanese authorities and the RSF must agree to direct dialogue, possibly with the involvement of civil society. The international community must exert strong pressure on the warring parties, impose sanctions on ceasefire violators, and enforce an arms embargo.
Pressure must also be applied to countries directly supporting the conflict’s participants (Egypt, UAE, the US, and other Western nations). In other words, external interference must be countered, the role of foreign mercenaries limited, and outside support for the conflict (weapons supplies, funding) halted.
At the same time, urgent measures must be taken to establish humanitarian corridors, provide food aid, ensure access for medical supplies, and support refugees (already numbering over 8 million displaced people). Naturally, maximum attention must also be paid to political settlement—restoring civilian government (before the war, there was a transitional council) and inclusive negotiations involving all regions (Darfur, South Kordofan, etc.).
The war can only be stopped through a combination of international pressure, negotiations, and genuine willingness from both sides to make peace. So far, neither the SAF nor the RSF are ready to compromise, but the humanitarian catastrophe may eventually force them to the negotiating table.
Viktor Mikhin, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Middle East Expert
