Sudan: Three Years of War – The World’s Largest Humanitarian Crisis
Welthungerhilfe Calls for Concrete Results and Financial Commitments at the International Sudan Conference in Berlin
Bonn/Berlin, April 14, 2026. Three years after the war began, the situation in Sudan has escalated into the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Nearly two-thirds of the population need assistance, more than 11.6 million people are displaced, and over 19 million are suffering from acute hunger. At the same time, international funding falls far short of what is needed: According to the United Nations, only about 16 percent of the required funds for 2026 have been secured so far.
Working in the country involves high risks for humanitarian organizations. Front lines are constantly shifting, and the security situation is highly unpredictable. “Sudan is one of the most dangerous countries for humanitarian assistance operations. Our teams work under constant uncertainty: every day requires new decisions about how assistance can be provided at all,” emphasizes Mathias Mogge, Secretary General of Welthungerhilfe (WHH). “Despite these enormous challenges, our Sudanese colleagues in particular are providing vital assistance under extreme conditions— often while facing violence, displacement, or the loss of loved ones themselves.”
Ahead of the international Sudan conference on April 15 in Berlin, WHH is calling for concrete commitments to improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation of the population. “Humanitarian aid must be guaranteed regardless of a ceasefire,” says Mathias Mogge. “We now need unrestricted access for aid organizations, protection for the civilian population, and significantly more reliable and flexible funding. Sexual violence must be stopped, and hunger must no longer be used as a weapon of war. The conference must deliver clear results on this! I am convinced that this is possible.”
Disrupted supply chains and rising transport costs resulting from the war in Iran are worsening the already catastrophic supply situation for the population. “Our teams in Sudan report massive price hikes: fuel has become up to 80 percent more expensive locally, and essential foods like wheat have risen by around 70 percent. For many families, even the most basic food items have become unaffordable,” says Mogge. “At the same time, our costs for assistance deliveries are also rising sharply, meaning we can reach significantly fewer people.”
Welthungerhilfe (WHH) has been active in Sudan since 1998 and is one of the few international organizations operating in the country despite the difficult security situation in several regions, including North Darfur. The focus is on food security, water supply, emergency assistance and agriculture. By 2025, the organization had reached over one million people through 19 projects in five states. In light of growing needs and rising costs, Welthungerhilfe warns that without additional funding, assistance programs will have to be significantly scaled back.
Mathias Mogge, Secretary General of Welthungerhilfe (WHH), is available for interviews.
Welthungerhilfe is one of the largest private aid organizations in Germany; it is politically independent and non-denominational. With courage and determination, it is striving for a world without hunger. Since it was founded on December 14, 1962, 12,777 overseas projects in about 72 countries and territories have been supported with 5.42 billion euros. Welthungerhilfe follows the principle of empowering people to help themselves to sustainably improve their living conditions, through approaches ranging from fast disaster relief to reconstruction and long-term development cooperation projects with national and international partner organizations.
