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Donate to help Sudanese Refugees

After fleeing war in Sudan, families living in South Sudanese refugee camps now face new threats like cholera.

In 2023, conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. 13 million people, including Shaima, made the difficult decision to flee their homes seeking safety and security.

Shaima was six months pregnant when she arrived at the transit camp in Renk, South Sudan. She and her family have now been there for over a year.

The camp is four times over capacity which is contributing to the spread of cholera, a water-borne disease that can be deadly. The cholera outbreak, coupled with the lack of clean water and essential supplies, is putting thousands of people at risk.

The good news is cholera is preventable with the right sanitation, clean water and hygiene. But urgent humanitarian aid is needed now for Sudanese refugees living in overcrowded camps. 

Donate to help provide people like Shaima with the clean water, hygiene kits, essential supplies and cash assistance they need to survive. 

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Voices from the refugee crisis

Asia, her mother Suat and her nephew

Asia

Asia and her mother Suat were living in Khartoum, Sudan when the war began and their lives changed forever. Khartoum was their home, but the violence forced the family to flee. They’ve now been living in the transit camp for more than a year.

"“I had to sleep under the bed because of bombs. The noise of bullets and bombs was too much and scared me a lot,” said Asia.

“Leaving home was very terrible but we had no choice.”

South Sudan: Shaima Ali and her son

 Shaima 

Shaima was six months pregnant when she fled Sudan. When she arrived at the transit camp, she worried about providing for her children. That’s when she was connected with Oxfam’s cash assistance program, which enabled her to help her family.

“I used to think what my children would not eat in the morning, and evening. But after I got support from Oxfam, my children has never gone hungry,” said Shaima.

“It has changed my life for better.”

South Sudan: Nadia and her son

Nadia

Nadia was living in Sudan with her husband and three children, with twins on the way. On 2 May 2023, armed men came to her house and shot her husband, eldest son and daughter. Nadia and her youngest son fled to the transit camp, and sadly, Nadia’s twins died after the long journey.

“Life here is really hard. Sometimes if I don’t have anything, I would sell my clothes just to survive,” said Nadia.

“I am determined to keep [my son] safe.”

Learn more about this crisis

"Look at the crisis in Sudan that is not ending soon" - Vincent Ogira, Sudan Crisis Response Lead, Oxfam

How your donation can help

Your assistance is critical in addressing this growing crisis and providing long-term support to the people in these overcrowded refugee camps in South Sudan. Without urgent funding, people will continue to live in unsafe conditions, where they lack access to clean water and sanitation, and are at greater risk of waterborne diseases, like cholera. Here’s what your gift can help achieve:  

South Sudan: Refugee Asia* washing her hand at an Oxfam supported WASH facility at their shelter at the transit center in Renk. Photo: Peter Caton/Oxfam

Hygiene kits

$75 can help provide hygiene kits to keep families safe from illness and disease

Donate $75 now
South Sudan: Asia Ahmed* at her home in Renk, South Sudan. She and her family are among nearly a million people displaced by the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Photo: Herison Philip Osfaldo/Oxfam

Cash transfers

$185 can help fund urgently needed cash transfers so families can buy the essential supplies they need, like food and medicine

Donate $185 now
South Sudan: Oxfam is responding in the transit centre in Renk, South Sudan, where thousands of refugees from Sudan are currently living in makeshift homes. Photo: Herison Philip Osfaldo/Oxfam

Advocacy

$300 can support the ongoing work that Oxfam does with governments, advocating for more humanitarian aid where it’s needed, when it’s needed

Donate $300 now

For every $1 we spend

70c

tackling poverty

21c

raising the next $1

9c

administration

Cambodia: Srey Rath is involved in training, campaigns, and national forums participation through Oxfam local partner Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA). She has received a lot of capacity building and is a young leader in the community advocating for better fishing and water governance practices. Oxfam acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Photo: Patrick Moran/Oxfam

70c of every $1 goes to life changing work

Your donation will help people and communities survive today, prepare for tomorrow and change their future for the better.

Our work together
Timor-Leste: Ilda at her home. She has always been a saver, even before joining ROMANSA. She is currently a leader in her group. Oxfam acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). Photo: Patrick Moran/Oxfam

21c of every $1 goes towards raising the next

For every $1 we spend, 21c is invested on generating future income, helping us to fund even more vital work.

Somalia: Hodan Mohamad Warsame, works at Oxfam Somalia Somaliland as a Public Health Engineer.

9c goes towards vital support costs

Just 9c in every $1 is used to keep Oxfam alive; paying our staff and our running costs.

Help us stop the deadly spread of cholera

“Despite all that we’ve managed to achieve, there still aren’t enough toilets or showers to keep up with the needs of people who are fleeing violence. This shortage of adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities is contributing to the spread of disease, including cholera, which is a grave concern in these conditions.” Vincent Ogira, Oxfam Sudan’s Crisis Response Lead.

Will you donate today and help provide clean water, hygiene kits, essential supplies and cash assistance to refugees who are still searching for safety? 

PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN

Frequently asked questions

Why are people fleeing Sudan?

The mass displacement from Sudan is primarily due to the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023. Since then, homes, schools and hospitals have come under attack, amid extensive looting and burning. The health system is rapidly deteriorating. Clinics are struggling to cope with a life-threatening shortage of staff and supplies. Famine has been confirmed in 10 locations, with more areas at risk.

The violence has resulted in over 8.6 million internally displaced persons and 3.8 million refugees, making it one of the largest displacement crises in Africa.

Where are they living now?

While most people are displaced inside Sudan, over three million have escaped as refugees to neighbouring countries such as South Sudan, Chad and Egypt.

What are the conditions inside these camps?

Conditions in refugee camps are dire. Many camps suffer from overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to healthcare and education. These challenges are exacerbated by funding shortages and logistical constraints. In South Sudan, the number of new arrivals far exceeds the absorption capacity of existing transit and reception centers. Transit sites designed for a few thousand people are hosting up to four times their intended capacity, resulting in overcrowding, poor sanitation, and rapid disease transmission.

Where will they go next?

With the conflict ongoing and no clear resolution in sight, many refugees face an uncertain future. While some may seek resettlement in third countries, the lack of sufficient international support and resettlement opportunities leaves many in a state of limbo. The protracted nature of the conflict means that durable solutions, such as voluntary repatriation or local integration, remain elusive for most.

What’s the humanitarian situation in South Sudan? 

The humanitarian crisis persists due to a combination of sporadic armed clashes, intercommunal violence, food insecurity, public health challenges, and climate shocks. These factors have severely affected people’s livelihoods and hindered access to essential services such as water, sanitation, education, and healthcare.

The influx of Sudanese refugees has further strained the country’s resources, complicating efforts to address the needs of both host communities and newcomers. The situation along the South Sudan-Sudan border remains critical. The continuous arrival of refugees, coupled with inadequate infrastructure and resources, poses significant challenges to humanitarian efforts.

What is Oxfam doing to help?

Oxfam leads water and sanitation efforts in the camps and currently supports water trucking, operations and maintenance of water and sanitation facilities, construction of new latrines, hygiene promotion.

As of April 2025, we have supported 247,857 people with access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene and protection services.