Sudan’s war has killed tens of thousands and uprooted millions, with the United Nations’ humanitarian chief warning that Darfur has become an epicenter of human suffering. Donor retrenchment — including reduced U.S. foreign aid — has deepened the shortfall for relief operations, while regional powers’ backing of rival forces has helped fuel the conflict.
In a recent episode of Slate’s What Next, released on November 19, 2025 and listed on podcast platforms as “Sudan on the Brink,” host Mary Harris examines how Sudan’s civil war is worsening amid limited international response. The episode features David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee and the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary from 2007 to 2010. Slate’s site headline for the episode reads “Sudan’s civil war needs the world’s attention.” Harris’s role as host is confirmed by Slate’s masthead. (podchaser.com)
Humanitarian indicators are stark. UN agencies reported in 2025 that more than 12 million people have been displaced inside and outside Sudan as fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces drags into a third year. Independent reporting has estimated the death toll in the tens of thousands, with some U.S. officials placing it far higher. (ungeneva.org)
Darfur has borne the brunt. In mid-November, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described Darfur as “the epicenter of human suffering,” citing mass executions, widespread sexual violence, and famine conditions following the RSF’s seizure of El Fasher. (washingtonpost.com)
The episode also discusses how shrinking donor support is compounding needs. In March, Reuters reported that the United Nations released emergency funds after “brutal” cuts by major donors, including a freeze in U.S. foreign aid programs, a shift aid groups say has disrupted life‑saving operations. In October, an NPR/WUNC interview with Miliband detailed service losses tied to these reductions. (reuters.com)
Regional dynamics further complicate prospects for peace. Reporting and official proceedings indicate external actors have backed opposing sides: Reuters documented Iran‑supplied drones aiding the army, while Sudan accused the United Arab Emirates of arming the RSF — a charge the UAE denies and which the International Court of Justice dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. (reuters.com)
The What Next episode underscores the need for sustained global attention to avert further catastrophe — a message echoed by aid groups and UN officials who warn that Sudan now ranks among the world’s largest humanitarian crises. Production credits for the episode include Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther. (ungeneva.org)
