A refugee from Sudan crossed the border into Ethiopian territory (4/5/2023/France Press)

The op-ed was originally published by Al Araby Al Jadeed

For many years, Sudan has suffered from recurrent and continuous episodes of armed violence, such as the crisis in southern Sudan, followed by the conflict in Darfur, which left many tragedies, displacement, and asylum, followed by the establishment of the 'Janjaweed' militia, which evolved later into the Rapid Support Forces. One of the most prominent repercussions of the continuation of the conflict was the proliferation of weapons in the hands of some armed factions in various parts of Sudan, which has made the country more fragile and vulnerable to recurring waves of violence and instability.

And with the outbreak of the armed conflict in Khartoum between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in April, Sudan now faces a complex set of acute humanitarian, economic, and political crises, which have worsened the already dire humanitarian situation and further necessitate the international community to continue to provide humanitarian support to avoid a major humanitarian catastrophe.

This article argues that the framing of "humanitarian response plans" according to the Triple Nexus (humanitarian, development, and peace nexus) can help Sudan overcome the shrinking "humanitarian space." The article also summarises the challenges facing humanitarian action in Sudan and suggests five necessary steps that can contribute to overcoming the stated humanitarian crisis in the country.