International NGOs working in Sudan are sounding the alarm as violence against civilians intensifies amid inaction from global leaders. The escalating conflict and worsening humanitarian needs have left millions trapped, with aid access severely restricted, especially in areas under siege.
In a stark appeal, these organizations urged world powers to act on the UN Secretary-General’s call for urgent measures to protect civilians and enable safe delivery of aid. Violence has surged in eastern Aj Jazirah State, forcing 119,000 people to flee, while in El Fasher, Darfur, civilians have been cut off from assistance for eight months due to ongoing bombings and blockades. Hostilities along Sudan’s borders have driven 25,000 people into Chad within a week, while reports of civilians affected by fighting continue in Khartoum and Kordofan.
A survivor of the Aj Jazirah violence recounted, “We left with only the clothes on our backs. Entire villages emptied, families scattered…every place we reached was preparing to flee.”
The critical Adre cross-border access point, enabling aid from Chad into Darfur, is set to expire in mid-November, prompting INGOs to call for its indefinite extension and the establishment of direct routes for aid across Sudan.
Despite condemning the atrocities, the UN Security Council has yet to take concrete action. INGOs urge a diplomatic push, including involvement at the highest levels, to pressure conflict parties and their backers to comply with humanitarian laws. They call for immediate civilian protections and unrestricted aid access, without conditions or political delays, to save lives and limit further harm.
The Sudan INGO Forum, which includes 70 organizations offering aid and peacebuilding across Sudan, is coordinating these efforts to address the urgent needs of affected populations in all 18 states.
