Sudan Tops Global Humanitarian Crisis Watchlist for Third Consecutive Year

Sudan has once again been ranked as the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis, topping a global watchlist released by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) on Tuesday, as fighting between rival military factions continues to devastate the country. It is the third consecutive year Sudan has led the list, which identifies the 20 countries most at risk of new or worsening humanitarian emergencies.

The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions, and pushed large parts of the population toward famine. According to aid agencies, basic services have collapsed, healthcare systems are overwhelmed, and access to food, clean water, and shelter remains critically limited. The IRC warned that continued fighting, combined with restricted humanitarian access and severe funding shortfalls, has left civilians increasingly vulnerable.

The watchlist underscores how prolonged conflict, political instability, climate shocks, and economic collapse are converging to deepen humanitarian needs not only in Sudan but across multiple fragile states. The IRC urged the international community to step up diplomatic efforts to end the fighting and significantly increase humanitarian assistance, warning that failure to act will result in further loss of life and regional instability.