By Matik Kueth
As Sudan’s war drags into its fourth year, it has evolved far beyond a conventional military confrontation.
What began on April 15, 2023, as a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has morphed into a full-scale collapse of a nation, one marked by mass displacement, economic ruin, and a deepening humanitarian catastrophe.
Today, Sudan is no longer defined by frontlines alone; it is a country where the basic structures of life, healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance have been systematically dismantled.
Entire cities and villages lie in ruins, while millions struggle to survive in conditions that defy comprehension.
The human toll is staggering
More than 10 million people have been displaced internally, with an additional 3.5 million fleeing to neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt.
Yet, behind these figures lies an even grimmer reality: communities fractured, families separated, and a generation growing up without stability or education.
Over 18 million children have been out of school for three consecutive years, with thousands of schools destroyed or repurposed as shelters.
Casualty figures remain contested, but estimates suggest that tens of thousands have died, with some organizations placing the toll far higher.
Reports of mass killings, sexual violence, and enforced disappearances have become alarmingly routine.
In areas such as Darfur and Khartoum, both warring parties have been accused of committing grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s economy has virtually collapsed, the national currency has lost most of its value, inflation has soared beyond 400 percent, and basic goods have become unaffordable for the majority.
In a further sign of fragmentation, competing financial systems have emerged in territories controlled by rival forces, raising fears of a permanent division of the country.
Hunger has reached catastrophic levels
Nearly two-thirds of the population now faces acute food insecurity, with millions surviving on a single meal a day.
In some regions, desperate families have resorted to eating leaves or animal feed.
Once considered a potential breadbasket for the region, Sudan’s agricultural sector has been devastated, with more than half of the cultivated land now lying idle due to insecurity and displacement.
Healthcare services have also been crippled
Over 80 percent of hospitals are no longer functioning, leaving millions without access to treatment.
Disease outbreaks, including cholera and dengue fever, are spreading rapidly, compounding the crisis.
Attacks on medical facilities and personnel have further eroded an already fragile system.
Adding to the complexity, the war has effectively split Sudan into rival areas of control.
While the army regained Khartoum in 2025, the RSF dominates vast regions in Darfur and beyond, operating parallel administrative systems.
This dual authority reality has deepened political uncertainty and undermined prospects for a unified state.
Despite the scale of the crisis, the international response has fallen far short.
Humanitarian appeals remain severely underfunded, and diplomatic efforts have yet to produce a sustainable resolution.
Moreover, allegations of foreign involvement, from arms supplies to logistical support, continue to fuel the conflict.