It has now been 2 years since the start of the brutal conflict in Sudan. More than 30 million people in Sudan now require humanitarian assistance. Over half are children. The most vulnerable people are being impacted the most, including women, the elderly and people living with disabilities.  

As the conflict drags on, communities are being torn apart. In places like North Darfur, famine has already taken hold. Cholera outbreaks have emerged due to limited access to clean water and sanitation. Aid workers and civilians alike are facing attacks, and many areas are now completely inaccessible to international organisations. 

In September 2024, Caritas Internationalis and ACT Alliance joined with the Catholic Bishops of Sudan to launch an urgent appeal to avert a worsening famine. This joint effort, supported locally by the Caritas Australia Sudan Crisis Appeal, is working to reach 100,000 people with life-saving assistance—including clean water, food support, protection services, and hygiene supplies. 

The appeal is especially focused on areas where no UN agencies or international NGOs are present, relying on local communities and Church networks to deliver help where it’s needed most. 

As of March 2025, 90 per cent of the UN’s humanitarian response plan for Sudan remains unfunded. This means millions of people are being left without the support they need to survive. 

“This time last year the Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference raised concerns that the international community has forgotten the Sudan crisis,” said Sally Thomas, Humanitarian Manager at Caritas Australia. “The lack of funding for life-saving services in Sudan unfortunately supports this.” 

Pope Francis has joined this call, urging the warring parties to seek peace and the global community to respond with compassion. Recalling “the suffering of children, women and vulnerable people that cries out to heaven and begs us to act,” he asked all people of goodwill to help end the violence and support those in need.