The suffering of Sudanese refugees continues to worsen, taking on horrific dimensions in refugee camps across neighboring African countries. Thousands are living under extremely difficult humanitarian conditions, particularly due to the lack of food, medicine, and healthcare. This crisis is fueled by a decline in aid and services provided by international organizations following significant funding cuts.
Bordering countries have become the closest sanctuary for thousands fleeing the “hell of war” in Sudan via land routes. Egypt to the north, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia and Eritrea to the east, and Chad and Libya to the west serve as primary destinations. Refugees seek shelter, food, and medicine, while many harbor dreams of migrating to Europe or America to escape the repercussions of armed conflict and the blockades they endure.
Lack of Healthcare
Alaa al-Din Ishaq, a Sudanese citizen currently residing in a camp in the Wadi region of Chad, says: “We are living in sub-standard conditions regarding food and health. Our hope for receiving aid has vanished, especially after the cut in U.S. funding. There is no support from humanitarian organizations to save thousands from the current situation or to restore a sense of optimism for a better future.”
He added, “The camp lacks adequate healthcare. There is a center located far away, but it doesn’t provide life-saving medicines. It offers very limited services, only Panadol and antibiotics. Consequently, the suffering of Sudanese patients is in constant escalation.”
Ishaq explained that there are no signs of improvement. “What is most worrying is that children are missing out on education due to the lack of schools and the inability to leave the camp to enroll them in educational institutions because financial savings have run out.”
Wretched Conditions
The events in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, last October forced Awadiya Nasser to displace to Libya. She now lives in a camp in the city of Kufra under catastrophic humanitarian conditions. She says, “Hunger has struck the majority of families. Everyone is living in extreme difficulty and misery amid the spread of epidemics, a lack of healthcare, medicine, drinking water, and a sanitation crisis.”
She noted that she expected adequate food, medicine, and proper housing in the refugee camps, but was shocked by “wretched conditions no less tragic than the consequences of the war in Sudan.”
Nasser pointed out that relief organizations do not provide permanent shelter or even tents, especially for new arrivals from El Fasher. “Staff distribute plastic sheets to block the sun so refugees can have a modicum of protection, at a time when the region has been hit by an unprecedented cold wave.”
She continued: “Hundreds of families arriving in the Kufra region need sufficient food, medicine, and blankets to protect against the bitter cold, especially for children and the elderly. We fear the outbreak of epidemics given the lack of medical supplies.”
Aid Reductions
Walid Akasha, who has lived in the Kiryandongo camp in Uganda for about a year and a half, explained that most Sudanese refugees rely on humanitarian aid for their daily needs. However, the reduction of food aid since last January to about five dollars per month per person, along with the exclusion of many groups from support, has exacerbated living conditions.
Akasha noted that the dwindling support has led to a dangerous decline in health services, signaling the spread of diseases and malnutrition among women and children, especially with the onset of the autumn season.
He added that the camp administration provides local shelter materials, tarpaulins and wood to build houses. “While intended for families, children, and the elderly, these are inadequate and do not protect against the bitter cold and the heavy rains falling these days.”
Homeless
In the same context, Mohamed al-Baqir, a volunteer at land crossings in North Darfur, expects the flow of people from the region toward Chad and Libya to continue, especially as displacement camps in Tawila, Jebel Marra, and Mellit become overcrowded, combined with the lack of shelter in northern Sudan.
He added, “The situation for most Sudanese refugees has begun to deteriorate because their estimates were based on a stay of a few months at most. The prolongation of the war to nearly three years has disrupted all their calculations, and they have begun to think about returning, regardless of the reality they might face.”
Al-Baqir stated that dozens of families arriving in Chad and Libya are now homeless. Organizations are distributing limited food to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and children under two to prevent malnutrition, diverting most resources to camps further from the border to encourage refugees to move to safer areas.
Crises and Restrictions
Al-Sadiq Jibril, a researcher in migration and asylum, believes that the sheer volume of Sudanese refugees flowing into neighboring African camps has paralyzed the capabilities of UN organizations. “The situation has become complex and exceeds available resources, especially after funding cuts.”
Jibril noted that the reduction in U.S. foreign aid is the primary reason for the funding gap. In 2024, U.S. contributions reached $68.4 million, accounting for 32% of the total UNHCR budget. This year, U.S. contributions dropped to $35.6 million, representing only about 10% of a budget that has increased due to rising humanitarian needs.
He pointed out that the intense pressure on camps and the increasing number of arrivals have led some neighboring countries to view the situation as a security threat, prompting them to impose restrictions and tighten entry procedures.
Shocking Displacement
More than two and a half years since the outbreak of war in Sudan, the UN estimates that the conflict has displaced nearly 13 million Sudanese. More than 4 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries where security and economic conditions are perceived to be better.
The difficulty of obtaining visas and entry permits has not stopped those fleeing from crossing into safety via illegal routes, braving the dangers of cross-border human smuggling in deadly and harsh journeys. Many have perished before reaching their destinations.
According to the European Commission, more than 360,000 Sudanese have arrived in Libya, noting that these flows have strained infrastructure. The UNHCR expects the number of Sudanese refugees in Libya to exceed 650,000 by the beginning of 2026.
According to the Commission, Uganda hosts more than 110,000 Sudanese refugees who have fled since the war began in April 2023. The Norwegian Refugee Council confirmed the presence of more than 720,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad.
There are 643,254 refugees in South Sudan and another 51,666 in Ethiopia, alongside smaller groups heading toward Eritrea and the Central African Republic.
Thousands of young people have chosen to migrate by boarding “death boats” across the Mediterranean toward an unknown fate; the lucky among them have reached camps on European shores.
