A thumbnail view of the years of ``course correction`` in Sudan
Yousef Abdallah
The war continues its operations and repercussions in Sudan. Even now, it can be viewed as a political, albeit bitter, outcome of the "course correction" process, the name chosen by the army commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his then-deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, for the coup that prematurely (October 25, 2025) ended the countrys democratic transition. They then subsequently disagreed over it, leading to a devastating war.
In a few months, Sudan will enter its fourth year of "course correction." So, where has the correction reached? Lets see it in thumbnails.
The latest analysis issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates that most humanitarian response sectors in Sudan suffer from alarming funding gaps due to the war that erupted between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. For example, the education sector has received only 1 percent of its needs, the nutrition sector has received only 3 percent of its funding, and health has received approximately 10 percent.
By another measure, the number of people in need of assistance has risen to 30.4 million, an "unprecedented level," according to the UN agency. It notes that the intensifying crisis is pushing humanitarian partners to raise 4.2 billion in 2025 to provide life-saving support to up to 21 million people across the country, representing half the population.
However, this figure remains far from being met. As of May 31, humanitarian partners had raised only 13.5% of the total requested amount, equivalent to just 563 million. This has forced partners to reduce the scope of the response to only 18 million people, with an urgent need for 3 billion to ensure the provision of a minimum level of services and assistance.
Indeed, this worsening catastrophic situation necessitates an urgent and sustained international and national response, given the magnitude of the needs and the worsening humanitarian crisis across the turbulent country. Furthermore, government plans remain nonexistent, appearing only in the form of political propaganda praising the performance of the authorities in Port Sudan.
In light of this and other issues, vital sectors, such as water, sanitation, and hygiene, face a funding shortfall exceeding 90 percent, according to the United Nations. This alarming figure limits access to millions of identified needy people.
Indeed, given the weakness of the state and its formal and informal institutions, aid plays a crucial role in empowering Sudanese families to make decisions that address their needs. This aid can alleviate the suffering caused by the war. However, it will by no means be the final solution, given the increasing rates of displacement, poverty, and unemployment. The war continues to have its impact, exposing millions of Sudanese to the risk of famine, disease, and lack of protection.
