Washington/New York: On May 22, 2025, the United States accused Sudan’s government of using chemical weapons in 2024, a serious violation of an international agreement called the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Sudan promised to follow. This accusation was officially reported to the U.S. Congress, along with a document stating that Sudan is not following the rules of the agreement. As a result, the U.S. will impose sanctions, or penalties, on Sudan starting around June 6, 2025.
These sanctions will stop Sudan from buying certain goods from the U.S. and block it from borrowing money through U.S. government programmes. The U.S. urged Sudan to stop using chemical weapons and stick to its promises, and warned that those responsible will face consequences.
This news comes at a terrible time for Sudan, where millions of people are already suffering from a massive humanitarian crisis. During a briefing in New York on May 22, 2025, a United Nations spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, described the situation as heartbreaking.
Fighting across Sudan has forced thousands of families to flee their homes. In West Kordofan State, about 47,000 people, including men, women, and children, had to leave the towns of Khiwai and Nuhud this month because of violence. Many of these people were already forced out of their homes once before and now have to move again, carrying what little they have left. In North Darfur, another hard-hit area, around 1,000 people fled from Abu Shouk camp and El Fasher town in just the past week. This adds to 6,000 people displaced in the region this month alone.
North Darfur is now home to over 1.7 million displaced people, living in crowded camps or makeshift shelters, struggling to survive. The constant fighting makes it hard for them to find safety or enough food, and many are running out of hope.
In Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, things are just as bad. Food prices are so high that many families can’t afford to eat properly. On top of that, a dangerous cholera outbreak is spreading, making people sick. A recent electricity blackout, caused by drone attacks that damaged power lines, has made the situation worse. Without electricity, hospitals can’t function well, and clean water is hard to come by. People are forced to use dirty water from unsafe sources, which increases the risk of diseases like cholera that can spread quickly and be deadly.
The crisis is also spilling over Sudan’s borders. In White Nile State, more than 25,000 refugees from South Sudan, mostly women and children, have arrived in the last six weeks. They’re escaping violence and hunger in their own country, hoping to find safety in Sudan. But Sudan’s own struggles make it hard to help these newcomers, who arrive with almost nothing. Aid workers are doing their best to help, but they’re running into big problems.
The United Nations says it needs $4 billion to provide food, shelter, and medical care to people in Sudan this year, but so far, it has received only $552 million—just a small fraction of what’s needed. On top of that, fighting and roadblocks make it hard for aid groups to reach people who need help the most. In some areas, like Tawila in North Darfur, aid workers have managed to bring more supplies, but it’s still not enough to meet the huge demand.
The new U.S. sanctions could make things even harder. By limiting Sudan’s ability to trade with the U.S. or borrow money, the sanctions might hurt the country’s economy, which is already struggling. This could mean less money for things like food, medicine, or rebuilding damaged hospitals and schools.
For ordinary people in Sudan, who are already dealing with so much, this could make life even tougher.
As the world watches Sudan’s government face questions about chemical weapons, the bigger story is the suffering of millions of people caught in this crisis. Families are losing their homes, children are going hungry, and diseases are spreading fast. The international community is being asked to step up with more funding and support to help Sudan’s people survive this nightmare, but for now, the future looks uncertain.
