Sudan Country Refugee Response Plan (CRP) - 2025 Mid-Year Report

Overview

Sudan remains at the epicentre of one of the most severe and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crises globally. Since conflict erupted in April 2023, violence has displaced more than 7.7 million people1 within the country and forced over four million others to flee across borders in search of safety.

Amidst these internal challenges, Sudan continues to uphold its long-standing commitment to protecting refugees and asylum-seekers from the Central African Republic, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and South Sudan. As of 30 June 2025, Sudan hosted 881,575 refugees and asylum-seekers. After the conflict erupted in mid-April 2023, more than 271,9942 refugees, nearly 64,000 households, were secondarily displaced within the country. Some communities have experienced multiple displacements within the country due to escalating violence and insecurity.

As of early 2025, 30.4 million people, more than half of Sudan’s population including refugees and asylum-seekers were assessed as needing humanitarian assistance3 and nearly 25 million people were acutely food insecure, representing one of the largest hunger crises globally4. The population has faced a steep rise in acute malnutrition and food insecurity, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan regions. Women and children make up the majority of those affected. While humanitarian partners strive to scale up assistance, access remains constrained in conflict-affected and hard-to-reach areas, affecting both refugees and host communities.

The cholera outbreak which began in mid-2024, has persisted well into 2025, with over 32,000 suspected cases reported including 2,302 deaths5. The epidemic has spread across multiple states, including refugee camps and displacement sites, exacerbated by damaged infrastructure, limited access to clean water and overcrowded living conditions6.

In a country overwhelmed by complex, overlapping crises, this protracted conflict has further limited the capacity of humanitarian actors to meet the critical needs of refugees and asylum-seekers. Despite generous donor contributions, major funding shortfalls persist. The underfunding has forced partners to reprioritize protection and life-saving interventions. Notably:

• Food rations are currently provided at 70 per cent of the standard ration. In hard-to-reach areas such as the Darfur states, refugees do not receive regular food assistance due to security constraints that limit access. These constraints are exacerbating food insecurity and heightening the risk of acute malnutrition, with serious implications for health and protection outcomes.

• Access to registration, legal documentation and freedom of movement is constrained, undermining refugees' liberties and access to livelihood opportunities, particularly for camp-based refugees.

• Refugees in urban settings frequently report incidents of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), harassment, discrimination and abuse, limiting their access to education, health care and livelihoods.

The broader security and political instability in Sudan magnify vulnerabilities already faced by refugees and displaced communities. Pressure on national systems and service delivery mechanisms, including health, education, and water supply, has increased significantly, often triggering tensions between refugees and host communities competing for limited resources.

The conflict has intensified the government's strict enforcement of its encampment policy and other movement restrictions on refugees and asylum seekers, citing national law and Sudan’s reservation to the 1951 Refugee Convention as justification. This crackdown, reinforced by a State of Emergency, curfews, and frequent security patrols, has made movement perilous, with undocumented individuals facing a constant threat of arrest, detention and deportation. The forced deportation incidents often result in violations of rights including family separations and loss of property and personal belongings.

In this volatile context, the refugee response must remain protection-centred, equity-driven, and sustainably resourced. Without urgent and sustained donor support, the deteriorating conditions risk eroding years of humanitarian and development gains on peaceful co-existence.

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