Starvation and Survival Stories in Sudan

By Winston Chu December 10, 2025

The destructive civil war that broke out more than two years ago in Sudan still persists today, spreading famine, genocide and death among fighters and innocent families in what the National Public Radio has labeled the world’s largest humanitarian disaster. 

While the conflict officially began in 2023, tension emerged when President Omar al-Bashir seized power in a coup in 1989. Al-Bashier presided over Sudan for three decades until citizens protested his reign for lack of political freedom. This prompted the army to launch a coup that ended his rule in 2019. Immediately after, civilians campaigned for democracy and successfully established a joint military-civilian government. However, this government was overthrown in 2021 when the Sudanese military, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, detained the prime minister and other civilian leaders. 

Al-Burhan and Dagalo soon found themselves in disagreement over plans for the country’s future. As the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—a paramilitary force which was separately created from Sudan's armed forces but has similar military training and equipment—Dagalo proposed plans for the gradual integration of the RSF into the military. However, al-Burhan adamantly refused, advocating for the immediate creation of a joint force. Both generals fought over who would lead the new force, neither of them willing to give up their power. Ultimately, these disputes provoked the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023 when both sides engaged in a shootout. 

Since then, the fighting has devastated thousands of families across the country. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), famine has been confirmed in three large regions and provinces, with twenty more neighboring areas at risk. As of September, the IPC reports that 375,000 people have been pushed into famine in the Darfur region and Kordofan province, while 6.3 million people in other areas face extreme hunger bordering famine. Famine and disease have displaced more than 14 million civilians from their homes as they search for food and safety for their families. 

“While there are efforts from organizations such as the World Food Programme helping 2.8 million people across Sudan with nutritional aid, this is nowhere near the scale that is needed to prevent mass starvation. There needs to be more funding and resources from the government to stop the war,” Senior Isabel Wright said. 

In addition to famine and forced relocation, the armies, particularly the RSF, have directly killed civilians. Since the RSF took control of the city of Al Fashir in October, hundreds of citizens have been massacred. The World Health Organization received reports that 450 people who took shelter in a hospital were killed. Currently, RSF is allegedly digging mass graves to hide the bodies, as satellite imagery of the city showed visible pools of blood on the ground. These images circulated on social media, spreading awareness about the genocide and placing pressure on organizations to respond. 

Acting quickly, the United Nations Human Rights Council launched an investigation into RSF’s mass killings occurring in El-Fasher. In November, a U.S.-led mediatory group and the RSF agreed to a temporary humanitarian truce in order to address the hostilities and conflict. However, a Sudanese military official stated they will only agree to a truce if the RSF withdraws from civilian areas and surrenders their weapons, forcing a stalemate. 

“While governments and organizations have provided petitions and statements, they are largely disorganized and unsuccessful at ending the war. If they continue to ignore the root cause of the conflict, these attempts will not contribute to any real impact,” Junior Kyuwon Yeom said.

As negotiations come to standstills, increasing humanitarian efforts are sending aid to the Sudanese families suffering from violence and danger. Nonprofits such as Action Against Hunger and Operation Broken Silence are fundraising money to raise awareness about the war and send humanitarian resources to affected families. These organizations urge everyone to donate to support the millions of people suffering during this time of crisis. The future of Sudan depends on major world leaders, organizations and the actions of everyday citizens. 

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About this Contributor

Winston Chu

staff writer

Winston Chu is a senior at Leland High School and the Managing Editor for The Charger Account. Over the summer, he went abroad to teach English to elementary school students in Taiwan. His hobbies include skiing and speaking, and he hopes to get better at playing pool.