Humanitarian crisis in Sudan: Federal Council requests emergency aid package for civilians
Bern, 19.11.2025 — In view of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan, the Federal Council decided at its meeting on 19 November 2025 to request an urgent supplementary credit of CHF 50 million from Parliament to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Sudan and the surrounding region. Food, drinking water and medicines are needed for the people of Sudan, whose situation has deteriorated further since the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the town of El Fasher. The conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF has led to what is currently the worst humanitarian disaster in the world. Switzerland has provided humanitarian aid totalling CHF 140 million since the outbreak of the conflict in 2023.
Two years after the start of the armed conflict between the SAF and the RSF, Sudan is on the brink of one of the most serious disasters in recent history. More than 12 million people have been displaced so far – around 8 million internally and 4 million to neighbouring countries such as Chad, South Sudan and Egypt. Over 30 million people in this region are dependent on aid, the economy has collapsed and the healthcare system is barely functioning. Migration pressure is also increasing noticeably.
In view of the scale of the humanitarian disaster, the federal government has provided humanitarian aid in all directly affected countries since the conflict broke out. It supports the care of refugees in South Sudan, Chad and Egypt as well as – through partner organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Food Programme (WFP) – in Sudan itself. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which coordinates Swiss humanitarian aid, is in direct contact with the partner organisations on the ground to support the implementation of humanitarian aid. Next week, the FDFA will conduct a humanitarian mission to Sudan, led by Dominik Stillhart, the Federal Council's delegate for humanitarian aid.
With the capture of the city of El Fasher at the end of October after a siege that lasted over 500 days, the situation has deteriorated dramatically. The number of starving refugees is constantly increasing – in Sudan as well as in neighbouring countries. Chad and South Sudan, two of the poorest countries in the world, have been hit particularly hard and are barely able to provide for the people arriving. In order to cover at least some of the most urgent needs – in particular food, drinking water, medical care, accommodation and protective measures – the Federal Council wants to make additional funds totalling CHF 50 million available. It is therefore requesting an urgent supplementary credit in this amount from the Finance Delegation (FinDel). The corresponding proposals will then be submitted to Parliament for approval.
With the additional funds, Switzerland could provide substantial support to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population, involving local organisations.
Switzerland's engagement in Sudan is broad and has been based on various foreign policy instruments since the 1990s – including humanitarian aid, humanitarian diplomacy, peace policy and good offices. Since the war in Sudan started, Switzerland has been stepping up deployment of these instruments in a targeted and coordinated manner.