Sudan's Untapped Lifeline

Since April 2023, conflict in Sudan has left over 30 million people in need of humanitarian aid and pushed more than half the population into severe hunger, with several areas already facing famine. The economy has collapsed—shrinking by nearly 30% in 2023 and a further 13.5% in 2024. Unemployment has risen from 32% to 47%, and poverty has more than doubled to 71% in just two years.

Sudan’s youth—35% of the population—are among the hardest hit, yet remain vital to community survival. Before the war, they were building businesses, leading civil society, and driving innovation. Today, despite immense challenges, they are running communal kitchens, delivering emergency aid, and holding communities together. 

This report, based on interviews with young people in Kassala, North and South Kordofan, and Central Darfur, reveals how the conflict has reshaped their lives, how they are adapting, and why targeted support is critical to Sudan’s future.