A thousand days of war in Sudan: millions of civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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January 9, 2026 Peace and security

On Friday, humanitarian organizations recalled a grim milestone: the 1,000-day mark since the start of wars in SudanThey emphasized that the conflict has led to the world's largest food crisis and the largest humanitarian disaster associated with population displacement.

Every day, civilians "pay the price for a war they did not choose," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

According to the latest UN data, the conflict has forced 9.3 million people to flee their homes and remains inside the country, while more than 4.3 million have fled abroad, placing enormous strain on neighboring states. More than 21 million people in Sudan are affected by acute food shortage.

Although many of the displaced have returned to the capital, Khartoum, serious threats to civilians remain, including contamination from unexploded ordnance. At the same time,fighting continues "on several fronts in Kordofan," said OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke.

Speaking to reporters at a briefing in Geneva, he noted that the siege had cut off aid to the capital of South Kordofan state, Kadugli, as well as Dilling, located to the north, limiting residents' access to food, medical care, farms and markets.

Daily drone and missile strikes

In Darfur, Laerke said, "fighting on the ground and drone attacks from the air continue," and long-range strikes on civilian infrastructure are being recorded far beyond the front lines.

Children continue to be killed and injured in clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Intervention Forces. Earlier this week, eight children were reported killed in an attack in El Obeid, North Kordofan.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), an average of 5,000 children have fled their homes every day since the conflict began in April 2023.

"Many of them have been forced to flee more than once – violence follows them wherever they go," said UNICEF representative Ricardo Pires.

The scale of sexual violence

He warned that millions of children face dangers, including the threat of rape, and that infants are among those who suffer sexual violence.

"Behind each of these numbers is a child – scared, hungry, sick and wondering why the world didn't come to their aid," Pires added.

Women are also victims widespread sexual violence and exploitation. According to OCHA, approximately 12 million people—mostly women and girls—may face gender-based violence.

"Female-headed households are now three times more likely than other households to be food insecure, and three-quarters of these households report not having enough food," Laerke said.

Lack of resources to help

The global humanitarian funding crisis has severely impacted the work of the UN and its partners in Sudan. Donors have provided only 36 percent of the requested $4.2 billion in 2025.

In 2026, OCHA plans to provide assistance to 20 million of the nearly 34 million people in need of humanitarian support. This requires $2.9 billion.

"Today we issue an urgent appeal: first, to immediately cease hostilities and take real steps toward lasting peace," Laerke said. "Second, to respect international humanitarian law by ensuring access across front lines and protecting civilians, including humanitarian workers, and civilian infrastructure."

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