CRS representative says Sudan’s crisis has reached “catastrophic proportions”

Sudan is experiencing one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian crises, with 12 million people displaced since fighting began in April 2023, says Paul Emes, Country Representative for Sudan of the Catholic humanitarian organization, Catholic Relief Services.

In an exclusive interview with CWR, Mr. Emes said, “30.4 million people, over half the population, require assistance with food, health care, water, and related needs. More than 16 million children are affected, making Sudan one of the world’s most severe child protection emergencies.”

The latest fighting in Sudan stems from a deadly power struggle between the Sudanese Army led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force led by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Both men were allies in the ouster of the country’s long-serving leader, Omar al-Bashir, in 2019. Bashir’s ouster ushered in a joint military-civilian government, but this was overthrown in October 1921 by the two generals at the center of the current conflict. But then they disagreed on a couple of issues.

The main disagreements centered on plans to absorb the 100,000-member RSF into the army and on who would lead the combined force. It was widely believed that both generals wanted to maintain their power to protect their wealth and influence. After days of rising tension, fighting began on April 15, 2023, triggered by an RSF redeployment that the army considered a threat.

The fighting has left at least 150,000 people dead and made life even harder for ordinary citizens.

“Humanitarian needs have risen sharply,” Emes told CWR.

The following is that conversation, edited for length.

CWR: How would you describe the humanitarian situation in Sudan as it is today?

Paul Emes: Sudan is facing one of the world’s fastest-growing humanitarian crises, with fighting that began in April 2023 continuing to drive mass displacement, disease outbreaks, and the collapse of essential public services. 12 million people remain displaced, including 7.3 million inside Sudan and more than 4.2 million who have fled to neighboring countries. The scale of displacement is now among the largest seen in any conflict globally.

Humanitarian needs have risen sharply. 30.4 million people, over half the population, require assistance with food, healthcare, water, and related needs. More than 16 million children are affected, making Sudan one of the world’s most severe child protection emergencies. Women and girls, who represent nearly half of those in need, face heightened risks as access to food, healthcare, and other basic services deteriorates.

CWR: And access to healthcare has become an issue of grave concern…

Paul Emes: Basic health services in conflict zones have been severely affected. For example, over 50% of health facilities have stopped functioning or are only partly operational. Interruptions to vaccination programs and sanitation systems have contributed to widespread outbreaks. Since July 2024, more than 83,000 suspected cholera cases and related deaths have been recorded.

Insecurity, roadblocks, and ongoing sieges continue to restrict humanitarian access and availability of critical commodities such as food or pharmaceuticals in Darfur, while funding shortages limit the ability of humanitarian actors to provide consistent support. Many communities have gone weeks without basic medical and food supplies.

Tensions escalated further in October 2025, when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed to have taken complete control of El Fasher, the last major city in North Darfur to remain under the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Most families remain trapped inside El Fasher as fighting continues into residential neighborhoods, displacement camps, and areas surrounding hospitals. A very few managed to flee the city for the Tawila camp.

The situation in Darfur and Kordofan shows that without urgent international intervention, both diplomatic and financial, Sudan’s crisis is likely to deepen, leaving millions more at risk.

CWR: Are the people of Sudan showing signs of giving up, or do you see resilience on the ground?

Paul Emes: Despite enduring one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, the civilians in Sudan continue to show remarkable resilience as conflict and displacement disrupt their daily lives. Communities throughout the country depend on solidarity, creativity, and local initiatives to survive in the absence of basic services and reliable assistance.

In displacement camps and war-affected neighborhoods, families and neighbors share whatever they have, often pooling limited food, water, and shelter to support the most vulnerable. Community networks have become essential lifelines as formal systems collapse.

In El Fasher, civilians have endured months of isolation and extreme shortages. Residents report surviving on leaves, grass, and animal feed during the harshest periods, highlighting the lengths people have gone to withstand extreme conditions.

Women have emerged as key leaders in many communities, organizing food distribution, caring for children, and sustaining social bonds in both camps and host communities. Their efforts provide stability and continuity at a time when families are scattered, and traditional support structures have been disrupted.

Local volunteer groups known as the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) have played a critical role in keeping communities afloat. These grassroots networks operate where government services and humanitarian actors are absent. The ERRs have run community kitchens in conflict areas such as Khartoum, repaired water systems, coordinated evacuation routes, and created safe spaces for women and children. Their work has become a cornerstone of civilian survival.

CWR: What has CRS been doing on the ground to provide respite for the affected populations?

Paul Emes: Since the outbreak of the war, CRS has provided assistance to 2 million people, focusing on life-saving food, health, nutrition, and WASH services.

CRS, with funding from the Department of State, established the first INGO Humanitarian Pipeline to transport food assistance and medical supplies through Cameroon and Chad into Darfur. In 2025 alone, CRS transported more than 13,000 metric tons of food commodities and 210 metric tons of specialized nutrition supplies to combat malnutrition. CRS also delivered medicines and medical supplies valued at over $250,000. In 2026, CRS will have another procurement of pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplies estimated at more than 1,000 metric tons.

CRS delivered over 1.2 million food rations across Darfur, Khartoum, and the Red Sea State. When conflict rendered Khartoum largely inaccessible to aid agencies, CRS also partnered with the Emergency Response Rooms to prepare and distribute over 250,000 hot meals.

With funding from the Department of State, CRS is supporting 32 health centers in West, Central, and East Darfur, enabling essential medical services for over 490,000 people—half of them women and girls. Looking ahead, CRS plans to expand support additional 70 health facilities in Darfur and Khartoum (possibly more) over the next three years. This will be funded by the World Bank.

CWR: Based on your evaluations, what critical needs has CRS’s support addressed? What might have been the fate of beneficiaries without this intervention?

Paul Emes: Field observations and evaluations from CRS indicate that the assistance provided has greatly benefited households, particularly children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and others in need, ensuring they have meals on their tables.

Moreover, CRS’s efforts to keep health facilities running have been vital in enabling those affected by the conflict to receive medical care, access essential medications, and ensure that pregnant women can obtain reproductive health services. In general, without this crucial support, beneficiaries have expressed that they would face displacement or secondary displacement, the loss of family members due to illness and complications, as well as other vulnerabilities.

CWR: What have been the greatest challenges you have faced on the ground?

Paul Emes: The escalating violence in Sudan has made aid delivery perilous and extremely challenging. Aid convoys encounter significant risks, including attacks and looting. Tragically, numerous humanitarian workers have lost their lives while providing critical assistance.

In addition to the ongoing violence, aid organizations’ access to the affected areas is frequently obstructed by bureaucratic challenges. These issues, coupled with the collapse of critical infrastructure, have significantly limited the ability of humanitarian organizations to deliver essential aid.