Red Cross urges international aid as Sudan crisis deepens

What Happened

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Special Envoy for Sudan, Derk Segaar, called for increased international support, stating that 35 million people require humanitarian assistance, over 9 million are internally displaced, and 4.5 million have fled Sudan. Segaar warned that shrinking funding threatens aid efforts across the country, including in Khartoum, Kordofan, and Darfur, where cholera, malnutrition, and floods compound the crisis. Meanwhile, Sudanese Army Lieutenant-General Yasser al-Atta declared that the military is advancing on all fronts with the goal of eliminating the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) before the end of the year. Al-Atta cited the recent seizure of Bara, Jabra al-Sheikh, Um Sayala, and other positions along the Omdurman–el Obeid road as part of this push. On the diplomatic front, the United Nations reported that the Quintet—comprising the African Union, IGAD, the European Union, the League of Arab States, and the UN—held talks with Sudanese civilian political leaders to advance a stalled political process, while UN envoy Pekka Haavisto engaged RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo in discussions on reducing escalation.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Sudan's crisis is one of the world's largest humanitarian emergencies, with 35 million in need and over 13 million displaced, yet it remains severely underfunded. The military's stated aim to crush the RSF by year-end threatens to intensify fighting, displacement, and civilian harm, while diplomatic efforts remain fragile. A failure to secure sufficient aid and a political resolution risks further regional destabilization and deepening of a conflict that has already killed tens of thousands and pushed parts of the country into famine.

Watch For

Monitor whether the Sudanese military meets its self-imposed end-of-year deadline for eliminating the RSF, and how the RSF responds militarily and diplomatically. Track any increase in international funding following the IFRC's appeal, and watch for concrete outcomes from the Quintet talks and Haavisto's engagement with Hemedti. Signs of a renewed political process or ceasefire would be significant, as would any large-scale offensive or intensification of atrocities.