Over 4 Million Flee Sudan Amid Ongoing Conflict, UN Reports

A United Nations aid convoy was ambushed in western Sudan while delivering critical food supplies to famine-threatened El Fasher, resulting in “multiple casualties,” as reported on June 3, 2025. The convoy, which included trucks from the UN's food and children's agencies, was targeted approximately 45 miles from El Fasher in Al Koma, a region controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to the UN refugee agency, over 4 million people have fled Sudan since the onset of the civil war, exacerbating regional instability. El Fasher, which is home to around 2 million residents, faces a severe scarcity of food and resources, as the RSF's siege has restricted aid access. A spokesperson from Unicef confirmed the attack while the convoy awaited clearance to proceed. The humanitarian crisis has deepened, with reports indicating that daily shelling and the blockade have led to widespread starvation. Activists have stated that community kitchens in El Fasher struggle to find staple foods, with supplies dwindling to a fraction of what is necessary for survival.

In Sudan's Darfur region, the humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported a disturbing increase in sexual violence, with 659 survivors treated in South Darfur from January to March 2025 alone. Over two-thirds of these cases involved rape, prompting MSF to call for accountability from the warring parties involved in the violence. Claire San Filippo, MSF emergency coordinator, stated that women and girls are now unsafe even in their own homes or while carrying out daily tasks like gathering food and firewood. Reports emerged of coordinated attacks where fighters killed men before assaulting women, illustrating the level of brutality inflicted on civilians. Since April 2023, the conflict has escalated in Darfur, dominated by the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias battling for control against Sudan's armed forces. The situation has worsened following the RSF's takeover of the Zamzam displacement camp, where numerous incidents of sexual violence and abductions have been reported. Hala al-Karib, from the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, emphasized the lack of international support for women facing such violence, stating, "This crisis is unfolding amid complete silence and utter neglect from international actors."

A new analysis indicates that nearly 300 million people worldwide are at risk of death through starvation due to exacerbating factors such as conflict, humanitarian aid cuts, and climate crises. The Global Report on Food Crises reveals that the number of individuals facing "high levels of acute food insecurity" has surged to 295.3 million, marking the sixth consecutive annual increase. The report highlights that escalating conflicts and geopolitical tensions have pushed an additional 13.7 million people into chronic food insecurity over the past year. Notably, more than 95% of those in dire need are concentrated in war-torn regions such as the Gaza Strip and Sudan, where famine has been officially declared, impacting over 24 million people in Sudan alone. The situation in Gaza is particularly critical, with approximately 2.1 million Palestinians at "critical risk" of famine due to ongoing Israeli sanctions and lack of humanitarian access. The report also attributes worsening food security in 19 other nations to similar factors, emphasizing severe impacts in conflict-ridden areas like Myanmar and Nigeria.