Monday, 16 March 2026
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Sudan's Forgotten Millions: Hawa and Ibrahim's Stories of Survival

Sudan is facing the world's largest displacement crisis, with millions on the brink of starvation. Tearfund shares the stories of Hawa, a disabled mother of eight abandoned by her husband, and Ibrahim, a blind father who lost his eldest son to a bomb—both families struggling to survive amidst a civil war approaching its third anniversary.

Displaced Sudanese families in a refugee camp at dusk, mothers carrying children amidst tents and aid workers

Analysis

Three years into a devastating civil war, Sudan has become the world's largest displacement crisis—and the world has largely looked away. Tearfund's latest stories from the ground remind us that behind every statistic is a face, a name, and a family fighting to survive.

Hawa is a mother of eight. Her husband abandoned the family, and an airstrike left her permanently disabled. She cannot work. She cannot easily care for her children. Yet she persists, supported by Tearfund's local partner, the Alsawaid Alkhadara Organization (AAO), which provides medical support to families like hers who have no other safety net.

Ibrahim is fifty years old and blind. His eldest son—the one who helped him navigate daily life—was killed by a bomb at the local market. His remaining school-aged children now wash cars or haul waste to earn a single meal. The cost of basic food has inflated beyond what most families can afford, and international assistance has dried up as the conflict has made access increasingly difficult.

These are not exceptional stories. They are representative of millions. Tearfund is calling on the UK Government to press for an immediate ceasefire and to increase humanitarian aid to Sudan. They are also asking supporters to pray—for protection, for provision, and for justice for a people who have been forgotten by the world's news cycle but not by God.

If you want to respond practically, Tearfund's Sudan appeal provides a direct way to support families like Hawa's and Ibrahim's.