According to the Estonian Refugee Council, Sudan is experiencing the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis, with 33.7 million people needing assistance and nearly 12 million people displaced by ongoing conflict. To address urgent needs in hard-to-reach areas of Central and South Darfur, the Estonian Refugee Council launched operations in August alongside local partners, deploying cash assistance and establishing safe referral pathways for vulnerable families.
Cash Assistance and Targeting Vulnerable Families in Darfur
The initial phase of the aid programme targets approximately 270 families, amounting to 2,700 individuals, according to program disclosures. Eligible households receive cash assistance over a three-month period. This setup allows recipients to decide whether their most urgent needs are food, medicine, shelter, or other essentials. Priority for the cash transfers is given to newly displaced families, households headed by women or children, families with members who have disabilities, and women and girls facing risks of sexual and gender-based violence.
Did you know?
Nearly 19.5 million people in Sudan are facing crisis levels of hunger, with several areas at risk of famine due to ongoing insecurity, administrative restrictions, and disrupted supply chains, according to the Estonian Refugee Council.
The Collapse of Protection Services and Inter-Service Referrals
In many isolated areas of Darfur, protection and psychosocial services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence have collapsed due to the war, leaving previously existing referral pathways broken. Consequently, a family might receive cash assistance from one organization while remaining isolated when seeking healthcare, legal assistance, or help with identity documents. To bridge this gap, the Estonian Refugee Council combines cash transfers with safe referrals and active monitoring, according to Eero Janson, Director of the Estonian Refugee Council.
“If a person has experienced violence, needs healthcare or psychosocial support, or requires help with documentation, they must be able to access the right services quickly,” Janson stated regarding the importance of functional referral pathways in conflict zones.
Digital Beneficiary Management and Local Partnerships
Under the program, local partner staff can refer families to available local services with informed consent if a needs assessment indicates needs beyond financial support. According to the Estonian Refugee Council, a secure digital beneficiary management and referral platform is used to track these referrals while maintaining confidentiality and safe data management.
Because shifting frontlines and multiple armed actors have severely restricted humanitarian access—particularly across Darfur and Kordofan—the Estonian Refugee Council and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) are implementing these activities jointly with local partners. According to program details, local organizations often maintain the only continuous presence in these hard-to-reach areas. The overarching project receives financial support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is implementing the humanitarian assistance program in Darfur?
The programme is implemented jointly by the Estonian Refugee Council and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) alongside local partners, with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
How does the cash assistance program work for displaced families?
Families receive cash transfers for three months, giving them the flexibility to allocate funds toward their most critical needs, such as food, medicine, or shelter.
What happens if a family needs support beyond financial aid?
Through secure digital referral platforms and local partners, staff can connect families to specialized services—such as healthcare, legal assistance, or psychosocial support—with the recipient’s informed consent.
To support emergency relief efforts and help vulnerable populations access critical aid, visit the Estonian Refugee Council website to learn more about donation options. Leave a comment below or share this article to help raise awareness about the humanitarian situation in Sudan.