Sudan crisis: how conflict is driving poverty, hunger and displacement

The Sudan crisis is one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. Since the conflict escalated in April 2023:

• Over 33 million people, including millions of children, require immediate and urgent aid.

• Nearly 12 million people have been displaced and over 42,000 children separated from their families.

• More than 70 per cent of healthcare facilities in conflict zones are non-functional.

Ask someone to describe the Sudan crisis and they’ll focus on conflict and displacement. On brutal clashes between military groups and families struggling to survive and escape.

But the impact runs deeper and unseen. Beyond the violence, Sudan has a poverty crisis.

In three years, an estimated 70 per cent of the population live below the international poverty line of $2.15 per day.

Stable jobs have vanished. Thriving businesses have disappeared. Parents can’t go to work because it’s unsafe for students to go to school.

Runaway inflation jumped to 170 per cent in one year. Prices for essential goods are soaring, and already vulnerable families are being pushed further into extreme hardship.

Make your voice heard: Call 1-877-5-RESPOND to hear directly from people living in the Sudan crisis. You can also share your messages of hope and change which will be presented to Members of Parliament.

To understand how poverty is deepening across the country, it’s critical to first look at what is happening in Sudan today.

Sudan humanitarian crisis timeline

The origins of the current Sudan crisis can be traced back to 1989.

That year, Omar al-Bashir became president following a military coup and for nearly 30 years, his government retained power. During that time, Sudan experienced ongoing conflict, international sanctions and deep economic challenges.

The timeline from there:

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2019: demand for change

• Sudan was gripped by rising food prices, inflation and widespread poverty. Mass protests erupted across the country, sparking one of the largest social movements in Sudan’s history.
• Demonstrators called for an end to authoritarian rule and demanded improved living conditions.
• President al-Bashir was removed from power and Sudan entered a period of political transition.

2019-2021: moving towards civilian rule

• A transitional arrangement was established to move Sudan towards civilian rule where the people elect leaders to govern the country.
• During this time, power was shared between civilian representatives and the military. The ultimate objective was to eventually hold democratic elections.
• Tensions escalated between both groups and the transition was unstable from the start.

2021: military takeover

• The transition to civilian rule collapsed and the military took full control of the government.
• This deepened tense political divisions and stalled hopes for a democratic transition.

2023: conflict begins

• Simmering tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) escalated into open fighting.
• The SAF is Sudan’s official national and traditional army. They seek to maintain control of government and military structures. The RSF is a paramilitary group that operates independently. They want to retain its independence from the SAF and its influence in Sudan’s political future.
• The conflict spread into the capital city of Khartoum, forcing millions of people to flee their homes.

2026: a nationwide crisis

• What began as a demand for change quickly became a political and military power struggle.
• The Sudan humanitarian crisis is now nationwide as essential services such as healthcare, education and food and water supply systems have been severely disrupted.
• Millions of families are now struggling to meet basic needs as instability continues.

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The Sudan crisis shows no signs of abating. Fighting occurs daily and it doesn’t just impact Sudan’s political or security landscape. It’s reshaping daily life across the country.

One of the most significant consequences is a rapidly deepening poverty crisis.

A deep look at the Sudan poverty crisis

Before the Sudan crisis escalated, many families relied on local jobs, small businesses and informal community markets to survive.

In 2023, the unemployment rate in Sudan was nearly 21 per cent. To put that in perspective, Canada’s unemployment rate peaked at 14 per cent. And that was directly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additionally:

• Industrial activity in urban centres has dropped 90 per cent.

• Sudan’s ability to generate power has decreased by 40 per cent.

• Approximately 15 per cent of all cultivated land in Sudan has been destroyed.

Many people are unable to work, unable to travel safely to work or unable to access functioning markets and services.

And that’s at the heart of the Sudan poverty crisis.

The ability to live, work and shop is in tatters. Millions of families live on one meal a day or less. Many are eating leaves and animal feed just to get some sort of nourishment.

Cost of basic goods: Sudan vs Canada

And because the economy is fragile, the purchasing power towards many essential goods is decreasing. Let’s use four staple items as an example, starting with bread.

Loaf of Bread

• Cost in Sudanese pounds (SDG): 1,200
• Canadian dollar equivalent (CAD): $2.00
• Current CAD price: $4.50

Technically, it’s cheaper to buy bread in Sudan than in Canada. However, the average daily income in Sudan is around 1,220 SDG. That means you could work for a full day and may not have enough for a loaf of bread.

Here are some other examples:

Item | Cost in Sudanese pounds (SDG) | Canadian dollar equivalent (CAD) | Current CAD price

Rice (one kilogram) | 1,300 | $2.32 | $5.50

Milk (one litre) | 1,700 | $3.00 | $3.50

Chicken (one kilogram) | 5,000 | $10.50 | $16.00

What’s affordable in Canada with daily wages is unaffordable in Sudan due to income collapse.

The Sudan poverty crisis is caused by rapid inflation, currency depreciation and widespread loss of income. Even basic items, which many Canadian shoppers grab off the shelf without a second thought, are out of reach for many Sudanese families.

In Canada, despite rising prices, stable incomes help protect purchasing power. This protection does not exist in Sudan.

Hunger and food insecurity in the Sudan crisis

Sudan may be one of the hungriest countries in the world.

And as poverty spreads, one of its most devastating consequences is an even greater rise in hunger and food insecurity.

Incomes are collapsing. Prices are skyrocketing. Supply chains are being disrupted. And millions of families are no longer able to reliably access enough food. Right now:

• Nearly 20 million people are facing acute hunger.

• More than 4.2 million young children and pregnant and breastfeeding women are experiencing high levels of malnutrition.

• Over 375,000 people are at risk of starvation.

It’s a double-edged sword. Hunger and food insecurity cause poverty and they’re also the result of poverty. This forces families to face harsh realities and make difficult choices:

• Inability to work: When people don’t get enough food, energy levels drop, physical and mental strength declines and they are more susceptible to illness. Jobs become harder to maintain which results in less income and deeper poverty.

• Selling assets to survive: When food is unaffordable, households may sell livestock or tools and equipment. This creates an unbalanced trade-off of “survive today to earn tomorrow.” These short-term survival fixes often lead to long-term poverty traps.

• Spending on healthcare: Chronic conditions such as weakened immunity and sarcopenia. Estimates say, nearly 80 per cent of people can’t afford access to healthcare and 70 per cent of all costs are out-of-pocket. Medical spending can push families further into poverty.

• Intergenerational poverty: Food insecurity in children can lead to malnutrition, stunted growth and weaker immune systems. Eventually, that results in reduced school attendance and learning ability. This impacts learning outcomes and earning potential for future generations.

When the availability of food is unpredictable, families can’t plan spending. Food markets are disrupted or no longer functioning reliably. People utilize coping mechanisms just to get through to their next meal.

Poverty leads to food insecurity. Food insecurity leads to poverty. And a cycle that is extremely difficult to escape is created with no clear exit in sight.

But it can be broken.

How World Vision Canada is responding to the Sudan crisis

As the Sudan poverty crisis deepens, World Vision Canada is working to deliver life-saving aid to millions of people affected by conflict and hunger.

One of the most pressing priorities is to address hunger. Families must access basic staples to maintain health and prevent severe malnutrition. Together, we can do just that.

Support families in Sudan: With your help, and with donations from the World Food Programme, your gift multiplies up to 7X in value to provide food to vulnerable children and families.

Your donation helps deliver food to families and children who are only worried about surviving today while dreaming and hoping for a safer and more peaceful tomorrow.