Sudan's civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, entered its fourth year on Tuesday. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Denise Brown, warned during a briefing from Khartoum on April 13 that the conflict has become an "abandoned crisis," not merely forgotten, with civilians enduring repeated atrocities.

"We are on repeat in Sudan," Brown stated, highlighting mass killings around El Fasher in North Darfur, where verified reports indicate 6,000 people died in three days during the RSF's October 2025 takeover of the city. Thousands fled to makeshift camps in Tawila, facing ongoing threats. Widespread sexual violence persists, particularly in Darfur, where aid workers treated nearly 2,500 survivors in the past year alone. Recent fighting displaced nearly 30,000 people in Blue Nile state, while aid convoys to Dilling in South Kordofan faced attacks after a UN visit.

The war has created the world's largest displacement crisis, with 14 million people uprooted, 9 million internally displaced within Sudan, and 4.4 million refugees in neighboring Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. Hunger affects 21 million, including 6.3 million in emergency levels, amid destroyed food production and veterinary services. Over 200 attacks on health facilities have killed 2,052 people, shattering medical services and fueling disease outbreaks. The UN verified 699 civilian deaths from drone strikes between January and March 2026 alone.

Casualty estimates range up to 400,000 dead since April 15, 2023, when clashes erupted over power-sharing after a 2021 coup. Both sides have committed war crimes, including indiscriminate bombings, torture, and ethnic targeting, particularly in Darfur. The SAF has recaptured parts of Khartoum, Omdurman, Bahri, and key Kordofan cities like Kadugli and Bara, but the RSF holds much of Darfur and presses offensives elsewhere.

Funding for the $2.8 billion 2026 humanitarian appeal stands at just 16 percent, down from 35 percent in 2025, forcing cuts to essential aid. Brown urged global action to stem weapons flows, accusing external actors like the United Arab Emirates of supporting the RSF and Iran aiding the SAF, and enforcing the Darfur arms embargo.

Peace efforts have stalled. Indirect talks mediated by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and others collapsed, with both factions rejecting ceasefires. The UN Human Rights expert renewed calls for dialogue, accountability, and inclusion of women, youth, and civil society to end impunity. Brown emphasized, "What more has to happen for everyone to sit up and pay attention?"