Sudan’s crisis and the looming migration pressure on Europe

Sudan is swept up in one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, devastated by two years of brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The consequences are catastrophic: millions are displaced, famine is rampant, and attacks on civilians and vital institutions have become the tragic norm, writes Arkadiusz Mularczyk.

Humanitarian emergency

Over half of Sudan’s population—more than 30 million people—now depends on humanitarian aid. Acute food insecurity has tripled since fighting erupted, with confirmed famine in parts of Darfur and many regions at extreme risk. The crisis deepens as armed groups impede relief efforts, block supplies, and attack aid workers. Bureaucratic and security hurdles mean life-saving aid is too often delayed or denied, leaving countless families exposed to hunger, disease, and violence.​

Plight of minorities and places of worship

Sudan’s religious minorities, particularly Christians, face heightened dangers as churches and Christian schools are deliberately destroyed. These places are critical lifelines for community support, and their targeting worsens persecution fears for Sudan’s roughly five percent Christian population. Attacks on any faith and religious site further fracture society, intensify suffering, and demand urgent investigation and targeted humanitarian relief for affected groups.

Regional impact and migration

The war has driven over 12 million people from their homes, pushing millions across borders into neighbouring countries strained by the influx. Such mass displacement greatly increases migration pressure on Europe and destabilizes regional security. UN officials warn that mounting refugee flows may trigger further migration to the EU, while the chaos risks creating space for extremist groups to flourish.​

Global stakes and major power involvement

Sudan’s turmoil attracts major international interests. Russia pursues military and commercial influence, while China’s infrastructure and resource investments give it significant leverage. Both have tended to abstain from intervention, at times making it harder for international actors to mount an effective response or enforce sanctions—highlighting the demand for true global partnership to help Sudan recover and prevent wider instability.​

The only path forward

With no military solution in sight, lasting relief relies on an inclusive political process led by Sudanese themselves. Major international donors, including the EU, have pledged hundreds of millions in humanitarian assistance for 2025 to address food shortages, health crises, and other urgent needs. But breaking the cycle of violence requires coordinated global action, sustained pressure on perpetrators, and unwavering support for justice and peace—not just for Sudan, but for the security of its neighbours and the entire region

Arkadiusz Mularczyk is a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament, and a former member of the Polish parliament and secretary of state in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A lawyer by trade, he has served as Government Plenipotentiary for Compensation for Damage Caused by German Aggression and Occupation in 1939-1945. You can follow him on X @arekmularczyk

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