Humanitarian aid
Sudan’s war leaves 15 million without shelter as funding gaps cripple aid response
More than 15 million Sudanese need shelter amid a war that began in 2023, but only 47 % of the $2.9 billion needed has been received, leaving warehouses empty and families exposed to winter.
American Impact Alliance News Desk2 minute read
Scale of displacement and shelter gap
The conflict that erupted in April 2023 between rival military factions has driven Sudan into the world’s largest displacement crisis. Current assessments indicate that 15.4 million people urgently require shelter, and three quarters of internally displaced persons are women and children. More than 5.2 million have returned to their places of origin, yet many find homes destroyed or looted, leaving them dependent on temporary accommodation. The lack of safe sleeping spaces undermines dignity and protection, especially for women who risk exposure to violence and exploitation as families move across shifting front lines.
Funding shortfalls and supply depletion
Humanitarian agencies say they can reach only about one in ten of those in need because of a severe funding gap. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan calls for $2.9 billion, yet only 47 % of that amount has been received so far. In the current year, more than 40,000 tonnes of relief supplies were distributed, but warehouses are now empty and emergency stocks are critically low. The shortage threatens to leave families without essential items such as solar lamps, kitchen sets and blankets as winter approaches, increasing the risk of cold‑related illness and exploitation.
Compounding crises and regional spillover
An El Niño‑driven drought has produced below‑average rainfall across Darfur, Kordofan and other conflict‑hit regions, reducing harvests and keeping food prices painfully high. For families that have lost everything, every Sudanese pound spent on food is a pound that cannot be used for shelter or basic household items. The deteriorating situation also fuels migration; Sudanese nationals now represent the largest nationality traveling to Europe via the Eastern Mediterranean route. Regional partners warn that if assistance does not scale up, neighboring countries will face increased pressure from new waves of displacement.