Three years after the start of the regional crisis, UNHCR, WFP, UNICEF and OCHA in the Central African Republic call for urgent action, with the 2026 Sudan Refugee Response Plan in CAR only 11 per cent funded.

BANGUI, 10 April 2026 - As the conflict in Sudan enters its fourth devastating year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Central African Republic (CAR) are renewing their urgent appeal for increased international support for both life-saving assistance and longer-term solutions for Sudanese refugees and the communities hosting them.

Humanitarian Needs Remain Acute

Since April 2023, more than 35,000 Sudanese refugees have fled to the Central African Republic, with around 22,000 residing in Korsi (“welcome” in local Sango language), a government-designated refugee-hosting area in the border town of Birao, Vakaga prefecture.

Elsewhere, more than 13,000 refugees are living in other remote areas across Bamingui-Bangoran, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Mbomou, and Ouaka prefectures. In addition, over 6,900 former Central African refugees have returned from Sudan.

In Birao, the number of refugees has now doubled the local population, highlighting the urgent need to support both displaced families and the host communities who have welcomed them.

“Even in the face of extreme adversity, Sudanese refugees in CAR have shown remarkable resilience,” said UNHCR Representative in CAR, William Chemaly. “As teachers, health workers, engineers, scholars and entrepreneurs, they are rebuilding lives and supporting the communities around them. The world must stand with them.”

UN agencies, in partnership with the National Commission for Refugees and NGOs, are providing life-saving assistance, including protection, food, water, shelter, healthcare, education and livelihood support, while helping refugees integrate into national systems. Yet significant gaps remain to ensure that refugees and host communities have access to sufficient basic services.

"The conflict in Sudan has displaced hundreds of thousands of men, women and children to neighbouring countries like the Central African Republic. Leaving the war behind and seeking safety for their families, many arrive with few possessions. Yet, all the refugees I have met speak to returning home, with hope of peace. Three years on, Sudanese refugees continue to flee the fighting, and despite shrinking resources, WFP remains present at the arrival centers and settlements, ensuring the assistance provided continues to make a critical difference." said WFP Representative in CAR, Mark Gordon.

Investing in Hope

Beyond emergency aid, UN agencies and partners are fostering sustainable solutions: facilitating access of refugees to national health and education systems, vocational training, agricultural programmes, and community initiatives that empower refugees and hosts alike. In Birao, classrooms have been expanded, health infrastructure has been strengthened, small businesses have increased, and families are slowly regaining a sense of normalcy and hope.

Adam and Wifak, a Sudanese refugee couple who arrived in CAR in 2023, welcomed their first baby boy, Abderahim, in Korsi. Since then, the family has opened a bakery, introducing Sudanese bread to the communities hosting them. “We were welcomed by others when we first arrived. Now, we want to contribute. More and more Central Africans are coming to my bakery every day,” Adam shared. Their home has become a warm social hub where neighbors gather daily to share stories, tea, and coffee.

Many more people still long for home and peace. “The deepest desire of many children and young Sudanese in the Central African Republic is for peace and to return home,” said Felix Ackebo, UNICEF Representative to CAR. “For however long this crisis continues, we will do what we can alongside partners to provide solutions that build their long-term resilience and also support the host communities that have generously welcomed refugees.”

“At a time when resources are increasingly limited, effective coordination remains the best guarantee of impact. Now more than ever, we must join forces to ensure that every dollar invested, every action taken, and every presence on the ground directly addresses the priorities expressed by affected communities,” explained Abdoulaye Sawadogo, Head of OCHA in CAR.

Joint call for action

The 2026 Sudan Refugee Response Plan, an inter-agency appeal led by UNHCR, brings together UN agencies and NGO partners to respond to the needs of refugees and host communities. It requires 55 million USD and is currently only 11% funded as of April.

The resilience of Sudanese refugees and the solidarity of host communities are clear. A sustained and strong commitment from the international community is needed to ensure that life-saving assistance continues, and that hope can turn into lasting solutions.

For more information, please contact:

UNHCR: Ying Hu/ [email protected]

WFP: Aurore Vinot / [email protected]

UNICEF: John James / [email protected]

OCHA: Maxime Nama/ [email protected]