Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has created an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe for the Sudanese people. Critical services such as rehabilitation, psychosocial support, and protection have virtually collapsed, while needs have risen exponentially. HI is one of the few humanitarian organizations providing rehabilitation care in the country.
At the start of the conflict, it was impossible to deliver direct humanitarian aid in Sudan. Today, however, HI is present in the country with a team of around 60 staff members. In Al Jazirah state, southeast of the capital Khartoum, HI provides rehabilitation care for people with disabilities and those injured, as well as stimulation therapy for malnourished children, in four hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
In Darfur, the organization provides financial support and distributes hygiene kits to displaced people in Geneina. In addition, HI offers emergency rehabilitation care in the hospital of ‘Doctors Without Borders’ in Tawilah, a town about 80 km west of the city El-Fasher, where heavy clashes between the warring parties took place in 2025, exposing the population to extreme violence and mass killings.
“The fall of El Fasher led to an influx of new displaced people in neighboring Tawilah. An increasing number of people with severe injuries and amputations urgently need physical rehabilitation care and adapted assistive devices.” – Vincent Dalonneau, Country director for HI Sudan
Prevention of secondary complications
In Darfur, support is primarily provided to people who have been injured. Gunshot wounds are among the most common injuries, but the harsh conditions faced by those fleeing violence and living in displacement camps also lead to fractures, burns, and other forms of trauma. Early rehabilitation care is essential to prevent patients from developing permanent disabilities, chronic pain, or deformities.
“We provide emergency rehabilitation with a strong focus on functional recovery. The objective is not to achieve perfect movement, but to restore the highest possible level of autonomy within the patient’s living environment and to prevent secondary complications.” – Marie Remy, Rehabilitation Team Leader
In partnership with local carpenters, wooden assistive devices such as crutches are produced to help patients regain mobility. At a later stage, metalworkers will also be involved in manufacturing mobility aids such as tricycles.
Returnees at Risk
The war in Sudan has triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, with nearly 14 million people displaced at its peak. Despite the ongoing conflict, more than 3 million people had already returned home by the end of January 2026, including 700,000 from abroad, according to UNHCR and IOM. Most returns occurred to the capital Khartoum and states in the east where violence had largely subsided.
However, the presence of explosive remnants of war poses a significant threat to these returnees. According to UNMAS, homes, schools, hospitals, mosques, and roads are contaminated with unexploded ordnance. Reports also indicate the use of anti-personnel mines.
“Other conflicts around the world have already shown how the contamination by unexploded ordnance can impact civilian life for decades, even after the conflict has ended. It endangers the lives of the Sudanese population, restricts access to essential services, and will hinder economic development.” – Vincent Dalonneau, Country Director for HI Sudan
HI is exploring the possibility of launching demining activities in the near future and organizing awareness sessions to teach people how to identify hazardous objects and respond safely.
