Sudan faces famine and mass displacement as UAE arms fuel ongoing civil war

More than 26 million Sudanese are suffering from critical hunger and face the risk of famine, according to Kristine Sandmæl, head of the Inter‑Church Council of the Church of Norway, who said, “More than 26 million people suffer critical hunger and there is a danger of famine.” The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s regular army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has killed at least 200 000 people and displaced over 12 million, with nearly 4 million fleeing to neighboring countries. Over 30 million people now depend on external humanitarian aid, including 5 million experiencing life‑threatening food shortages.

Investigations by the United Nations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch indicate that the United Arab Emirates has supplied weapons and soldiers to the RSF through areas controlled by Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar. The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, now controls roughly half of Sudan, especially Darfur and Kordofan, and is armed in part by gold‑mine revenues. International calls are urging increased humanitarian assistance and a push for peace amid the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The Norwegian church community has long supported aid work in Sudan, urging continued global support for the war‑torn population.