UNHCR Seeks $1.6 Billion as Sudan Refugee Crisis Overwhelms Neighbouring Countries

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, together with 123 humanitarian partners, is urgently appealing for $1.6 billion to provide life-saving assistance and more dignified support to 5.9 million people across seven countries neighbouring Sudan by the end of 2026.

The funding request comes as the war in Sudan continues to drive one of the largest displacement crises in the world, placing immense strain on host countries already facing poverty, limited services and shrinking humanitarian resources.

Fourth Major Appeal Reflects Relentless Crisis

The 2026 Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) will prioritise support for:

• An estimated 470,000 new refugees expected to arrive this year

• Thousands more stranded in border areas with only minimal aid

UNHCR said the need for a fourth annual appeal at this scale underscores the unrelenting impact of the conflict and a humanitarian response struggling to keep pace.

Nearly three years after the war began, Sudan remains the world's largest displacement emergency and worst humanitarian crisis, unfolding amid the most severe global funding crunch in decades.

Host Countries at Breaking Point

Fighting continues across several regions of Sudan, where essential services have collapsed and humanitarian access remains restricted.

Thousands of people continue to flee each week, often arriving in border regions that were already vulnerable even before the crisis.

While host governments and local communities have shown remarkable solidarity, UNHCR warns their capacity is being pushed to the brink.

Egypt: Largest Host, Severe Funding Cuts

Egypt now hosts the largest number of people fleeing Sudan, with registered refugee figures nearly quadrupling since 2023.

However, deep funding shortfalls have forced UNHCR to close two of its three refugee registration centres, restricting access to critical protection services.

The available funding per refugee per month dropped sharply:

• $11 per month in 2022

• $4 per month in 2025

Chad: Shelter Crisis at the Border

In eastern Chad, more than 71,000 refugee families have not received housing assistance, leaving them without safe or adequate shelter.

Meanwhile:

• Nearly 234,000 people are awaiting relocation

• Many remain in precarious conditions at the border

UNHCR says investment in more adaptable and resilient settlements will be essential to stabilise both displaced communities and host areas.

Uganda: Clinics Closing, Malnutrition Risks Rising

In Uganda's Kiryandongo settlement, clinic closures and the suspension of critical nutrition programmes have left thousands of Sudanese refugees at heightened risk of disease and malnutrition.

UNHCR warned that cuts to health and nutrition services could have deadly consequences, particularly for children and pregnant women.

Supporting Both Emergency Aid and Long-Term Solutions

Despite shrinking resources, the regional response plan aims to sustain essential services for new arrivals and the most vulnerable refugees, including:

• Food assistance

• Shelter and housing support

• Health care

• Protection services

• Documentation and registration

The plan also prioritises longer-term approaches, including:

• Supporting governments to include refugees in national systems

• Expanding access to education and public services

• Promoting self-reliance through development partnerships and private sector engagement

• Building safer, more stable communities in countries like Chad and Ethiopia

Dangerous Onward Movement Rising

UNHCR warns that the widening gap between rising needs and dwindling funding risks undermining both emergency response and longer-term stability.

With no clear path to peace, more refugees are losing hope and making the difficult decision to move onwards.

Last year, the number of Sudanese refugees attempting the dangerous journey to Europe nearly tripled.

Call for Stronger International Support

UNHCR is calling for urgent international backing to address persistent underfunding in countries hosting people fleeing Sudan.

Without increased support, humanitarian agencies warn that critical services will continue to collapse, placing millions of refugees and host communities at even greater risk.

As the conflict grinds on, UNHCR says sustained global solidarity is essential — both to meet immediate needs and to prevent further destabilisation across the region.