Sudan Humanitarian Crisis : It will take much more than silencing the guns
By Stephen Cornish
The Executive Director of MSF Switzerland Operational Centre
This time last year, I came across the testimony of a child who had fled Khartoum with his family in the early days of the war, seeking refuge in eastern Sudan. Despite the horrors around him, his most profound concern was that the sound of gunfire and airstrikes meant he would go hungry. For this child, war was about losing the everyday certainties, like having access to food.
Today, as I read the news about Sudan, my thoughts turn to the ceasefire negotiations in Geneva, held just a few kilometres from where I write this piece. These US-led peace talks, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, aimed to bring Sudan’s warring parties to the negotiating table. It was a crucial step in the long and challenging process of building a foundation for peace in this war-torn country. But it is just that—a step.
While political dialogue is essential, it will take much more than silencing the guns to restore dignity, well-being, and healthcare to millions of people. The path to peace requires a collective, long-term commitment from both warring parties. Health facilities must be respected, and humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach all those in need.
Sudan’s crisis is multifaceted. Ten million people, around a fifth of the population, have been displaced, making it the largest displacement crisis in the world. Widespread malnutrition plagues several regions, with even Khartoum—on the frontline since April 2023—under threat. Malnutrition has reached catastrophic levels, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) treating more than 20,000 malnourished children between January and June 2024. The health system has collapsed, with 70-80% of facilities no longer functioning, leaving countless people without care.
After 16 months of war, both warring parties continue to obstruct humanitarian access, systematically preventing aid from reaching areas controlled by their opponents. Access is often restricted, with no safety guarantees for aid workers—or sometimes, no access at all. These conditions have forced MSF to suspend some activities, yet our teams continue to work in 8 of Sudan’s 18 states. We are one of the few international aid organizations still operating in areas controlled by both sides of the conflict, but our capacity is stretched, and the needs are immense.
Two million people have fled to neighbouring countries like Chad. When I visited the Adré transit camp in East Chad last December, most Sudanese refugees I met had left due to high levels of violence and because there was little to eat. The war prevents farmers from planting and harvesting, leaving markets empty or prices too high for many to afford food.
To prevent further deterioration, safe and unrestricted access for a large-scale humanitarian operation must be granted regardless of any ceasefire. The practice of restricting or prioritizing aid based on territorial control must end, with a focus on ensuring access, security, and protection for civilians and humanitarian missions.
Cross-border assistance is vital, especially as the rainy season makes usual supply routes impassable. Local food production and traditional import markets have been severely disrupted, and they will take considerable time and investment to recover— a time that the Sudanese population cannot afford.
The hopes for peace are currently in disarray and will require a coordinated, long-term commitment from the international community to be re-established and adequately funded. Even as the peace talks conclude, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan will continue.
The road to recovery in Sudan will require more than emergency responses. The country needs long-term partners—humanitarian organizations, development agencies, and reconstruction funds—committed to helping the Sudanese people rebuild their lives.
The Geneva peace talks are essential for creating an environment for political progress, but diplomacy alone will not be enough to address the urgent humanitarian crisis and the escalating needs of a population torn apart by civil war for over a year. The peace process must be accompanied by concrete actions on the ground—actions that ensure the protection of civilians along with access to food, healthcare, and basic services for all Sudanese.
The real work lies ahead. Only then can we hope to see a Sudan where the guns fall silent and its people can live with dignity, security, and hope for the future.