Three Years of Atrocities in Sudan: World’s Largest Humanitarian Catastrophe
TAWILA, North Darfur—April 13, 2026: Three years since the conflict escalated on 15 April 2023, Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) deplores the unrelenting violence in Sudan which continues to spur one of the world's largest humanitarian catastrophes. With well over 12 million people uprooted by the fighting, whether within Sudan or into neighbouring countries, and an estimated 25 million people in need of urgent aid, there is an urgent need for civilian protection and an end to the violence. Until this happens, communities continue to endure daily threats to their lives, safety and dignity as basic protection and humanitarian access remain critically insufficient.
"Three years since the conflict escalated on 15 April 2023, Sudan's civilians remain at the heart of an unfolding humanitarian crisis that some argue is currently the world's largest, most devastating human-made catastrophe,” said Armstrong Evans, NP’s Head of Mission Sudan. “People in Sudan are facing unspeakable horrors, from physical to sexual violence to mass displacement with nowhere to go and a myriad of health, hygiene, and protection challenges. No one should have to live like this, especially in this day and age."
Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) remains steadfast in Tawila, North Darfur, and in South Kordofan, Nuba State, where our Community Protection Teams (CPTs)—comprising trained women, youth, and community members—work alongside local authorities, peer organizations, and UN agencies to address protection concerns such as help children be reunited with their families, or house those who have lost theirs. NP’s team also helps women who are survivors of sexual and physical violence seek the psychological and physical health resources they need. Moreover, the team works with other agencies to prevent violence among displaced, traumatised communities, promote women's leadership, and build trust.
"This is my home country, these are my people, they need me now more than ever,” said Sumood (name changed for protection), a local Sudanese woman from El Fasher and a women’s peace team member with NP in a displacement camp elsewhere, expressing her resolve. “I do have my own pain and losses, but I am still in a position to help my fellow Sudanese survivors. I have fallen hard, and I know I will continue to fall, but every time I fall, I will do what I have been doing: I will get up, dust myself off, and keep going on. That is the only choice I have."
After the mass atrocities that took place in Genina and El Fasher, more cities across Sudan now have heavily restricted movement, facing localised famines. The people of Sudan need urgent, unrestricted humanitarian access, strengthened civilian protection mechanisms, protected aid corridors, and sustained support for local peacebuilding efforts.
"People in Sudan are experiencing unimaginable suffering—Parents and children are being separated by violence, whether through death or displacement. Communities that once thrived have been razed to the ground. Sustaining life with basic food, medicine and water is a daily struggle,” Evans reiterated. "That this has continued for three years is an unimaginable tragedy. All those with influence in this war must ensure its immediate end, and ensure that civilians have access to immediate humanitarian relief. Local civilians are doing everything they can to survive - it is well past time that the international community do everything in their own power too."
NP calls on global leaders, donors, and advocates to ensure civilians are no longer caught in the crossfire of this protracted emergency.
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ABOUT NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE:
Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is an international protection agency. Our mission is to protect civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, build peace side-by-side with local communities, and advocate for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity. NP's duty of care programming aims to reduce the physical risks volunteers are exposed to as well as support the psychological resilience of volunteer networks and the communities they serve.
For media inquiries, please contact Mahmoud Shabeeb, NP's Global Media Adviser, at [email protected].