South Sudan: Asia Ahmed* stands with her mother, Suat, and her cousin at their home in Renk, South Sudan. They are among nearly a million people displaced by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.Photo: Herison Philip Osfaldo/Oxfam

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

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South Sudan: Shaima Ali, a refugee from Sudan in Renk, South Sudan speaks on her experience relocating after being displaced from the conflict in Sudan while holding her baby Fahima during feeding time. Photo: Herison Philip Osfaldo/Oxfam

In 2023, conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. Nearly 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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13M

people have had to flee their homes, making this one of the largest displacement crises in Africa

3.8M

refugees have been forced to flee the violence seeking safety and security

Voices from the crisis

I had to sleep under the bed because of bombs. The noise of bullets and bombs was too much and scared me a lot.

Leaving home was very terrible but we had no choice.

Asia — Displaced by the violence in Sudan

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 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.

It has changed my life for better.

Shaima — Displaced by the violence in Sudan

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.

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

I am determined to keep [my son] safe.

Nadia — Displaced by the violence in Sudan

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.

South Sudan: Jun Ajuk, Oxfam health promoter speaks to Sudan refugee and returnees on the importance of maintaining hygiene to avoid spread of disease. Photo: Herison Philip Osfaldo/Oxfam

South Sudan: Jun Ajuk, Oxfam health promoter speaks to Sudan refugee and returnees on the importance of maintaining hygiene to avoid spread of disease. Photo: Herison Philip Osfaldo/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:

$80
$190
$310

Hygiene kits

$80 can help provide hygiene kits to keep families safe from illness and disease

Hygiene kits

$80 can help provide hygiene kits to keep families safe from illness and disease

Donate now

Learn more about this crisis

Oxfam has been able to construct more than 260 latrine stances which has served the population all through this time. We have installed the emergency water supply and distribution systems. The blader behind us, is just one of the many bladders that we have installed. Oxfam has also done a lot of shower facilities ensuring that refugees and returnees are able to shower with dignity. Including also installation of lighting to allow refugees and returnees to be able to use sanitation points at night.

– Vincent Ogira, Sudan Crisis Response Lead, Oxfam

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.