The war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began on the 15th April 2023. The conflict has caused significant direct and indirect environmental damage, affecting both urban and rural populations. Impacts include increased deforestation, agricultural decline, pollution from damaged industrial and energy infrastructure, de-energisation events and the deterioration of health and sanitation systems. 

The conflict has most heavily affected central and south-western states. While eastern states, such as Red Sea State, have seen little fighting, the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has placed significant pressure on the environment. These pressures have also affected neighbouring countries that are hosting substantial refugee populations. 

What began as intense urban warfare in Khartoum State quickly spilled over into other parts of the country. In December 2023, the RSF captured Al Gezira State, south of Khartoum, an area known as Sudan’s “breadbasket”, raising serious food security concerns — the SAF liberated Al Gezira State and Khartoum in early 2025. Meanwhile, southern and western states have experienced more intense fighting, particularly in Darfur, where serious human rights violations have been reported. The city of Al-Fashir has been under RSF siege since the early stages of the conflict and faced indiscriminate bombing. 

Sudan’s proximity to the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Red Sea means the conflict poses a serious risk of regional destabilisation, placing additional pressure on climate-sensitive ecosystems and fragile environments in neighbouring countries.  

Our work on Sudan

We began monitoring the environmental impact of the conflict in Sudan in October 2023 and have conducted remote damage assessments for Khartoum and Al Gezira states, along with a rapid environmental assessment of the collapse of the Arba’at Dam near Port Sudan. The work has been carried out on behalf of UNEP as part of its ongoing response to the war, in turn responding to a request from Sudan’s Higher Council for the Environment and Natural Resources (HCENR). Our Sudanese and British team have used our bespoke remote assessment methodology that integrates open-source intelligence, earth observation, and local expertise to identify and analyse environmental incidents and trends. 

Some of the key incidents, themes and trends that we have identified are explored below.