Sudan’s war fuels the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, displacing 14 million and killing 40,000 since 2023.

Sudan remains at the top of the International Rescue Committee’s 2025 Emergency Watchlist for the third consecutive year, as a war between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to drive the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Since April 2023, the conflict has caused over 40,000 reported deaths, displaced more than 14 million people, and led to widespread atrocities, including mass killings and sexual violence, particularly after the RSF captured el-Fasher in October. Global humanitarian funding has dropped by 50%, worsening conditions, while the IRC warns of a growing “New World Disorder” marked by conflict, resource exploitation, and weakened global response. The watchlist identifies 20 countries, home to just 12% of the world’s population, as responsible for 89% of humanitarian need, with 117 million displaced. The group urges urgent international action, including UN Security Council reform, to prevent 2026 from becoming the deadliest year for aid workers and civilians.