Beirut - The international community's failure to act decisively for over two years to end the fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has allowed the conflict to become a prolonged humanitarian disaster. Tens of millions of civilians face daily shortages of food, water, and medical care, in clear violation of the international community's duty to protect civilians and prevent serious crimes.
The ongoing fighting in Sudan has worsened the humanitarian crisis to an unprecedented level. The United Nations classifies it as one of the world's most severe crises, with over 30 million people—nearly two-thirds of the population—in urgent need of assistance in critical areas such as health and food. Amid severe economic collapse and soaring commodity prices, the vast majority are unable to meet their basic needs.
The conflict in Sudan has had devastating effects on civilians. Over the past two years, more than 18,800 civilians have been killed due to the direct and indiscriminate targeting of residential areas and civilian infrastructure with various weapons, including airstrikes, artillery shelling, and attack and suicide drones, as well as armed clashes within cities.
The international community's failure to act decisively for over two years to end the fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has allowed the conflict to become a prolonged humanitarian disaster
There are also repeated reports of unlawful combat methods that increase the danger to the population, constituting clear violations of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction, proportionality, and the obligation to take necessary precautions.
Girls and children have been among the most affected by the conflict, with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) documenting 221 cases of child rape, including 147 girls and 74 boys. Of these, 16 were under the age of five, including four who were just one year old, throughout 2024 and up until March 2025.
Grave violations against children have increased more than tenfold over the past two years, with their geographical scope expanding to unprecedented levels. Once confined to areas such as Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Kordofan, these violations have now spread to more than half of Sudan's 18 states, reflecting the collapse of the protection system and the transformation of civilians into direct targets during combat operations.
Additionally, violations against civilians have been recurrent and systematic, including killings, maiming, child abductions, and attacks on schools and hospitals. According to United Nations data, the highest rates of these acts have been recorded in Darfur, Khartoum, Gezira, and South Kordofan states over the past two years. Reports show that 1,721 grave violations against children occurred in 2023 alone, including killings, injuries, recruitment, rape, and attacks on schools and hospitals, representing more than a fivefold increase compared to 2022.
Sexual violence has become a systematic weapon in the Sudanese conflict, used as a tool for control and humiliation, particularly targeting women and girls in conflict-affected areas. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), more than 12 million people in Sudan, most of them women and girls, are currently exposed to multiple forms of gender-based violence, including rape, forced marriage, and physical and psychological assault.
With the health system almost completely collapsed and approximately 80% of health facilities out of service in Darfur, Gezira, Khartoum, and Kordofan, survivors of sexual violence are deprived of emergency medical care and psychological support. An estimated 6.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), including more than 160,000 pregnant women, are largely without access to basic health services. They are often forced to give birth in unsafe conditions, including overcrowded camps or unprepared locations, without skilled medical personnel, sterilisation equipment, or basic medicines.
These women face double danger: the risk of unattended emergency delivery and a high chance of infection or life-threatening complications, compounded by a severe shortage of medical transportation and referral services, as well as severely restricted access for humanitarian organisations.
Furthermore, Sudan's hunger crisis is escalating, with over half of the population affected. Approximately 24.6 million people face severe food insecurity, and more than 638,000 are experiencing famine. This threatens lives as aid efforts are hindered by funding shortages, ongoing conflict, and limited humanitarian access.
The internal conflict in Sudan has led to "the world's largest international displacement crisis", according to the United Nations. Around 9 million people are internally displaced, with another 3 million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Conditions are dire, marked by food and water shortages, limited access to basic services, and the spread of diseases like cholera and measles in camps. The near-total lack of healthcare and safe facilities jeopardises the lives of millions, particularly women and children, with no clear or immediate prospects for protection or aid.
Around 50,000 people are believed to be missing in Sudan, according to the Sudanese Group for Defending Rights and Freedoms. There have been no significant official efforts to uncover their fate or provide reliable information to their families, worsening their suffering. The group highlights that the crisis is intensifying due to ongoing armed conflict, limited access to affected areas, and a lack of investigation capabilities in locations where many are believed to have been forcibly disappeared. This is compounded by impunity and the collapse of accountability systems.
The international community, including the Security Council, the African Union, and the Arab League, must impose an immediate and comprehensive embargo on the supply of weapons, drones, and parts to those involved in serious violations in Sudan. Additionally, punitive measures such as asset freezes and travel bans should be adopted to halt the flow of lethal weapons and limit the capacity to commit further crimes against civilians.
Euro-Med Monitor calls on the international community to support the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan by ensuring full funding, cooperation, and an expanded mandate. This would enable the mission to access affected areas, document violations, and identify perpetrators for prosecution in national and international courts, ensuring that those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity are held accountable.
It is crucial to establish a unified international mechanism to address the issue of missing and forcibly disappeared persons. This mechanism should be overseen by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, with full cooperation from all parties to the conflict, ensuring no party has control over its operations or decisions. The mechanism must include the creation of a DNA bank, centralised documentation of evidence, and mapping of unidentified graves and secret detention sites, guaranteeing that victims' families have the right to know the fate of their loved ones and bringing an end to the cycle of enforced disappearances.
Euro-Med Monitor stresses the need for a comprehensive emergency programme to combat gender-based violence. This should include mobile "safe spaces" in displacement areas and isolated villages, training for judges and police officers to professionally investigate rape and related crimes, and the creation of confidential, accessible referral networks offering immediate medical and legal support to survivors. Additionally, community campaigns should be intensified to combat stigma and promote a culture of accountability.
The United Nations and active states must establish safe humanitarian corridors, both land and air, under international supervision. These corridors should allow unconditional access to medical and food supplies, lift any restrictions on the movement of humanitarian and relief workers, and ensure that all parties respect them.
An integrated international plan for reconstruction and early recovery must be launched in close partnership with civil society organisations, based on transparency and accountability. The plan should address the needs of Sudanese refugees and displaced persons, provide fair compensation to victims, and allocate resources according to locally determined priorities for equitable and effective distribution. This will lay the foundations for transitional justice, sustainable peace, and comprehensive development in the post-conflict phase.
