In East Darfur, the collapse of basic services has left families like Ibrahim’s and Hawa's in a battle for survival.
Written by Tearfund | 05 Mar 2026
Ibrahim’s family have been devastated by the loss of the eldest son, who helped bring income for the family to buy food and basic healthcare. Credit: Tearfund partner AAO
Sudan is currently facing the world’s largest displacement crisis, with millions of people on the brink of starvation. This has created a horrific humanitarian emergency, forcing thousands of families into a relentless daily struggle for survival.
Access to necessities such as clean water, healthcare, and education has become critically limited, threatening millions of lives and the very fabric of communities.
As the third anniversary of the civil war approaches, the crisis is only deepening.
Hawa and her family receive support from Tearfund’s partners in Sudan. Credit: Tearfund partner AAO
Hawa is in a daily struggle to shield her eight children from the catastrophic impacts of the Sudanese civil war. For years, she and her husband endured the crushing hardship of extreme manual labour – punishing, poorly paid work that left them exhausted and unable to secure enough food.
When the conflict struck, Hawa’s world fractured twice. Her husband abandoned the family under the pressure of the crisis. Then an airstrike tore through her neighbourhood.
The attack was devastating. Hawa underwent surgery to remove two of her ribs, leaving her permanently disabled. The injury left her struggling not only with pain but also with the uncertainty of how to continue caring for her children.
When Tearfund’s local partner, Alsawaid Alkhadara Organization (AAO), met Hawa last October, they could immediately see her health challenges and the impact this was having on her family. Because her situation was so serious, the team quickly found her the medical support she so desperately needed.
While Hawa’s immediate needs are being met thanks to AAO and our faithful supporters, the ongoing crisis means stability and safety feel out of reach for Hawa and her family.
Ibrahim is a 50-year-old father who is blind and disabled. The conflict stopped the small support he received before the civil war, so his children are now forced to go out in search of income for food. Credit: Tearfund partner AAO
For Ibrahim, a 50-year-old father who is blind, the conflict threatened to strip away the dignity of his former life. Before the violence, his eldest son, Mohamed, was the pillar of the family, trading in the local market to support his siblings. Everything fell apart when Mohamed was killed by a bomb at the market. His body was never found.
Now, Ibrahim’s school-aged children spend their days washing cars or hauling waste just to bring home enough income for a single meal. On the hardest days, Ibrahim’s daughter, Mariam, leads him through the streets with a stick so he can beg for coins to buy water.
The inflated cost of everyday items has put a strain on what little income Ibrahim can secure. ‘Life became difficult; the assistance I used to receive as a blind, disabled man stopped due to the ongoing conflict,’ he says.
The family lives in a house constructed with local materials of bamboo, but with no latrine for safe water and hygiene. Already facing hardships of limited access to income-generating activities, food, and adequate healthcare, they’ve been pushed into an even more vulnerable situation.
‘Life became difficult; the assistance I used to receive as a blind, disabled man stopped due to the ongoing conflict.’
Children are being taken by a preventable hunger crisis. We serve a God of justice and mercy. We can’t let this happen on our watch.
We must use our voices to speak up for our global neighbours. Jesus’ radical love calls us to stand up to suffering, and show that some love to our world. We must follow where God’s love leads us, so let him lead you in prayer and action now.
Written by Tearfund
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