The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is calling on the Australian Government to urgently increase its response to the worsening situation in Sudan, which the United Nations has called the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with millions at risk of genocide and starvation.
Alongside Sudanese communities in Australia, we are calling for the government to increase humanitarian aid to Sudan, support diplomatic efforts to end the conflict and to provide clear pathways to permanent visas for Sudanese nationals on temporary visas in Australia.
We urge the government to ensure Australia’s actions are coherent, consistent and equitable in comparison to similar responses to conflicts in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Gaza. We are disappointed to see that the government is yet to act in significant ways on this increasingly dire situation, and we call on the government to act now to ensure the safety of all Sudanese, including those in Australia.
The humanitarian emergency in Sudan has spiraled further out of control. In the past week, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, after more than 2 years of conflict.
Reports from the United Nations confirm ethnically targeted attacks on civilians and on health workers and alarming levels of gender-based violence. The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab has documented evidence of war crimes, including attacks on protected medical facilities and evidence of mass killings visible from space.
More than 14 million people have now been displaced, with tens of thousands fleeing El Fasher in recent days alone. Many are walking for days through armed checkpoints, facing extortion, harassment and violence as they seek safety, with malnutrition rising.
RCOA Deputy CEO Adama Kamara says the crisis is getting worse by the day.
“Australia has shown it can act quickly and compassionately when crisis strikes: for Ukraine, Afghanistan and Gaza. People from Sudan deserve the same urgency, compassion and leadership.”
UNHCR’s April 2025 Guidance Note again confirmed that no part of Sudan can be considered safe. Despite this, there has been no clear public commitment from the Australian Government to extend protection to Sudanese nationals already here or to provide pathways for families trapped in danger.
Ms Kamara says Australia’s humanitarian principles must be applied equally.
“When the world’s largest humanitarian crisis is unfolding before our eyes, silence is not an option. The time to act is now.”
RCOA, in partnership with its members and the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, worked to develop a National Humanitarian Crisis Response Framework to guide consistent and humane responses to emergencies like Sudan. This framework aligns with Australia’s humanitarian policy commitments and offers a clear path for timely and equitable action.
