Almost 12 million people have been driven from their homes, with more than half being women and children. 7.2 million people are currently displaced inside Sudan, many living in overcrowded camps or makeshift shelters facing extreme hunger and disease outbreaks.

The conflict has exacerbated all forms of gender-based violence, including violence against women and girls of all ages, leading to demand for gender based violence services increasing fourfold. Over 70% of hospitals have been destroyed or damaged in conflict-affected areas, and many communities, particularly in besieged areas, have been cut off from the food, clean water and medical care they need to survive.

For the second time in less than a year, famine has been confirmed by the IPC in parts of Sudan. Famine is likely to spread to at least 20 areas across Darfur and Kordofan regions unless violence stops and aid can get through. This hunger crisis is not inevitable — it is being driven by conflict, the destruction of markets and agriculture, collapsing health services and the obstruction of aid.

It is inexcusable that catastrophic levels of hunger are persisting because humanitarian organisations are being prevented from reaching the communities most in need. In some of the worst-affected areas, aid is completely blocked.

This man-made emergency has already caused immense suffering. Without decisive action, fighting could spread even further and could destabilise neighbouring countries.

The UK has a crucial role to play and has demonstrated moments of political leadership, but its response has fallen short. As UN Security Council penholder, the UK has a unique platform to shape international action and push for stronger leadership on protection, humanitarian access, and famine prevention.

The UK must now step up and use its influence to break international paralysis, mitigate the widespread suffering of civilians, stabilise the region and prevent an even greater catastrophe. 

1,000 days on, Keep Eyes On Sudan coalition, a group of leading UK charities including Action Against Hunger, Age International, CARE International UK, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund, Oxfam, World Vision are calling on the UK government to take concrete action to end suffering in Sudan.

• Scale-up its diplomatic efforts, including through the UN Security Council, to push for an immediate, nationwide ceasefire as the first step towards lasting peace.
• Protect civilians, aid workers and local emergency responders by backing efforts to prevent further attacks, atrocities and International Humanitarian Law violations.
• Secure rapid, safe, sustained humanitarian access across Sudan, especially to conflict-affected and besieged areas, so aid can reach every community in need.
• Increase funding now, especially to local aid groups and women led organisations, to help stop famine spreading further and provide life-saving assistance and services especially to women and children forced to flee their homes.
• Support a regional response to this crisis, working with neighbouring countries to increase humanitarian assistance to refugees, enable safe cross-border access for humanitarian aid, and prevent the conflict from spreading further.

After more than 1,000 days of warnings and international inaction, the crisis in Sudan has reached catastrophic levels — with suffering on a scale that could have been prevented. Women, children and communities in Sudan and across the region can wait no longer.

Add your name and urge the Government to act now.