An unimaginable crisis continues to unfold in Sudan. Since war broke out in April 2023, more than 11 million Sudanese people have been forced to flee their homes. Nearly 25 million people face acute malnourishment and do not know where their next meal will come from. The war has resulted in 20,000 documented deaths, though many estimated the actual numbers are much higher.
Amid the intensity of war, many humanitarian aid agencies have ceased operations in Sudan — but we remain. With decades of local relationships and trust built by our teams in Sudan, as well as the strategic positioning of our teams in Chad who are serving Sudanese refugees fleeing across the border, we find ourselves positioned for “such a time as this,” able to care for Sudanese communities in their greatest moments of need.
Thanks to the steadfast support of generous partners like you, we reached 815,258 people in Sudan in FY24. Among them are 396,661 people supported with food, cash assistance and agricultural support. We also provided 690,003 medical consultations at 59 World Relief-operated medical clinics, and we served an additional 13,563 Sudanese refugees who fled across the border into Chad.
What’s more, our care for Sudanese families extended to those seeking safety in the U.S., where we have been serving this community for many years. Since the early 2000s, World Relief has partnered with local churches and communities across the U.S. to resettle Sudanese refugees. This included a group known as the Lost Boys of Sudan, a generation of children (mostly young boys) who fled violence in Sudan after civil war broke out in 1987.
Continuing this legacy of open arms, our U.S. offices walked alongside 580 Sudanese refugees in FY24, providing housing, job assistance, mental health services and family reunification support.
Committed to Those In Need
Whether in Sudan or the U.S., your generosity is making a real difference for Sudanese families — including people like Jawahir. At just 23 years old, she was confronted with the reality of war when violence broke out in Sudan. Like so many women and girls in conflict zones, she faced an outsized burden. Everyday tasks became dangerous, and the few opportunities to earn an income quickly disappeared.
“Many women and girls face many challenges, from the risk that we may face when looking for food, water, firewood if we go far [away from the village],” Jawahir said. “Also, when no food is served [to our families], [it] can lead to fighting”
Thankfully, “At a time where all people were in urgent need,” Jawahir shared, “we found World Relief.”
In partnership with USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, we worked in Jawahir’s community and other remote areas of Sudan to increase protections for women and girls. This included training community members to identify and prevent violence against women and girls. In addition, they also helped community members promote equality between men and women, protect children and provide psychosocial support for survivors of violence.
As a result of this work, Jawahir has seen notable changes in herself and her community: “I am more confident now as a woman and feel safer. After the awareness sessions, things have changed.” She has even become a member of her local protection committee, helping spread awareness and protecting more women and girls.
Stand with Communities on the Move
The conflict in Sudan has uprooted millions and put people like Jawahir at great risk. Yet, for more than 80 years, World Relief has remained steadfast in its mission to serve those seeking safety “here” in the U.S. and “there” on the front lines of urgent crises.
By God’s providence, your generosity and the resilience of our global staff, we continue to help in the hardest places, offering hope, dignity and life-saving support. As the crisis in Sudan continues, we will keep showing up, boldly bringing the love of Christ to communities on the move — whether in Sudan, Chad, the U.S. or wherever God calls us next.