As the conflict in Sudan reaches a grim three-year milestone, the international community is preparing for a high-stakes diplomatic gathering in Germany. With millions of lives hanging in the balance, human rights advocates are warning that the upcoming International Ministerial Conference on Sudan in Berlin must move beyond political rhetoric to deliver immediate, tangible financial support.
The conference, scheduled for April 15, 2026, comes at a time when the humanitarian situation has reached a breaking point. A brutal war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with their respective allies, has plunged the nation into a catastrophic health and displacement crisis. Currently, more than 33 million people are in desperate need of assistance, yet the resources available to help them are dwindling.
The paradox facing Sudan is stark: as the scale of human suffering expands, international foreign aid is declining. This funding gap is threatening the delivery of lifesaving healthcare, leaving civilians to battle not only the violence of war but also the ravages of cholera, severe malnutrition, and untreated trauma.
For those on the front lines, the lack of predictable funding is more than a budgetary issue—It’s a matter of survival. Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and South Africa, has emphasized the human cost of these statistics, stating, “As aid has declined in Sudan, the needs have only increased. Behind these numbers are real lives, real people who have lost their homes, loved ones and livelihoods, who are fighting to survive the war and the disease and hunger it brings.”
The Berlin Ministerial Conference: A Critical Juncture for Peace
The third international Ministerial Conference on Sudan is being co-hosted by Germany and the African Union, in collaboration with the European Union, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The meeting aims to mobilize humanitarian support and advance peace efforts amidst escalating mass atrocities and a crisis of displacement on April 15, 2026.
While the conference focuses on aid, it also sits within a complex web of international mediation. Efforts have intensified over the last six months under the auspices of the “Quad”—comprising the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates—and the “Quintet,” which includes the United Nations, the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the European Union. Despite these high-level efforts, mediators have yet to secure a humanitarian ceasefire or establish a credible political framework to resolve the multilayered conflict.
A significant point of contention remains the exclusion of organized Sudanese civilian voices from the peace process. Advocates argue that for any peace agreement to be sustainable, it must include the people most affected by the violence. The Berlin meeting presents an opportunity to reinforce civilian engagement and align political tracks with a roadmap for sustainable peace.
The Dire Consequences of Precarious Funding
The impact of aid cuts is being felt most acutely by frontline non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Many of these groups provide essential services, from delivering fuel to hospitals to providing post-rape care for children. Though, inconsistent “start-and-stop” funding has disrupted operations, forcing some organizations to reduce their workforce or shut down entirely.
Medical shortages have reached critical levels. Some international NGOs report lacking basic painkillers and antibiotics, forcing healthcare workers to develop agonizing decisions about which patients to prioritize for care. The malnutrition crisis is equally severe; one organization reported that it could only meet 50 per cent of the cases requiring ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), a nutrient-dense paste essential for treating children with severe acute malnutrition. CARE International estimates that up to 80 per cent of community kitchens have closed due to these funding cuts.
The Berlin meeting must not be another talking shop. International donors must seize this opportunity to commit more funding to frontline non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Sudan. They must recognize the terrible suffering of civilians and accept meaningful action to alleviate it.
Tigere Chagutah
Women, Children, and the Disabled: The Most Vulnerable
The conflict has seen widespread sexual violence committed by all warring parties, yet the health services required to treat survivors are collapsing. Women’s rights defenders report that grassroots groups, which once provided a lifeline for survivors, are now receiving almost no funding. This has led to a situation where hundreds of women and girls are being abandoned without access to sexual reproductive healthcare, leaving those with traumatic fistulas in a state of extreme pain and neglect.
The crisis extends beyond Sudan’s borders. More than 4.5 million people have fled to neighboring countries. In response, the United Nations issued an appeal in February 2026 for US$1.6 billion to support refugees across the region.
Among the displaced, children and adults with disabilities face insurmountable barriers. In displacement camps in Chad, many struggle to access basic education and healthcare. Yagoub, a 17-year-old who was shot in the leg by the RSF in North Darfur, currently relies on a crutch and cannot afford the estimated 5 million Sudanese pounds (approximately US$1,470) required for surgery to remove shrapnel from his body. Similarly, 15-year-old Makawi, who has cerebral palsy, lives in a tent in Chad without a wheelchair, making basic tasks like using a toilet nearly impossible.
The Gap Between Political Commitments and Financial Reality
The current crisis highlights a failure of high-income states to meet long-standing commitments. For decades, many wealthy nations have pledged to allocate at least 0.7 per cent of their Gross National Income (GNI) to overseas aid. However, in Sudan, these promises have not translated into sufficient resources.
The funding disparity is evident in the data. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, U.S. Funding for Sudan’s coordinated humanitarian plan was halved between 2024 and 2025. By 2025, less than 40 per cent of the plan had been financed by all donors combined.
While the UK Foreign Office has recently prioritized Sudan with a focus on women and girls following an Independent Commission for Aid Impact report, questions remain regarding how these commitments will be implemented amidst broader cuts to UK development staff and programs.
Human rights advocates argue that donor funding must be coupled with redoubled diplomatic pressure to ensure unhindered humanitarian access. Without the ability to safely move medicine, food, and personnel into conflict zones, financial aid alone cannot solve the crisis. There are calls for long-term measures, including debt relief and cancellation, to allow Sudan to eventually invest in its own vital public services.
Key Takeaways: The Sudan Humanitarian Crisis
- Scale of Need: Over 33 million people require assistance as the conflict between the SAF and RSF enters its third year.
- Funding Collapse: US funding for the humanitarian plan halved between 2024 and 2025, with overall donor financing falling below 40%.
- Critical Shortages: Up to 80% of community kitchens have closed, and some NGOs can only meet half the need for therapeutic food for malnourished children.
- Displacement: More than 4.5 million people have sought refuge in neighboring countries, with the UN requesting $1.6 billion for regional support.
- Berlin Goal: The April 15 conference aims to secure increased funding and pressure warring parties for unhindered humanitarian access.
The International Ministerial Conference on Sudan on April 15 will serve as the next critical checkpoint for the international community. The world will be watching to see if the delegates in Berlin produce a concrete financial and diplomatic plan or if the meeting becomes, as critics fear, another “talking shop” while millions continue to suffer.
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