Sudan’s elderly displaced by the ongoing conflict are enduring severe difficulties accessing basic necessities such as food, medication and healthcare. Many have been separated from family members who once cared for them, compounding their vulnerability.
Hamad Abdallah, 75, fled his village in North Kordofan after an attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Now living in displacement, he is among thousands of older Sudanese struggling to survive amid the country’s worsening humanitarian crisis. Fatima Mousa, 71, also escaped violence in Kordofan with neighbours but remains anxious as she does not know where her family is. “I still don’t know where my family is. I have been living here for several months, and we urgently need medication and support, as we have no family members to look after us,” she said.
The Aldaw Hajooj Home for the elderly in Northern Khartoum continues to provide care despite the conflict’s impact. However, its director, Moubark Satti, told CGTN Africa the facility lost its only vehicle used to transport residents to hospitals. Tragically, he added, some elderly people have died because they could not access medical care. “The facility had lost its only vehicle, previously used to transport residents to medical facilities,” Satti said. “Some elderly people had died during the conflict because they could not access medical care.” These claims come from CGTN Africa’s reporting and have not yet been independently verified.
Sudan’s Minister of Social Welfare, Siddig Ferini, stated that authorities have succeeded in reuniting dozens of displaced older people with their families, though many others remain missing relatives. “Authorities had reunited dozens of displaced older people with their families, while others were still searching for relatives,” he said during a media briefing.
The struggles of Sudan’s displaced elderly reflect a larger crisis affecting millions across the country since the nationwide war escalated in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. Independent reporting from Al Jazeera and UN-linked sources confirms widespread shortages of food, shelter, medicine and access to healthcare for displaced populations, with older people being especially exposed due to their reliance on family support, regular medication and accessible transportation.
A UN report notes that welfare and social support systems have collapsed or become virtually non-existent in many areas affected by conflict, leaving vulnerable groups without resources. The testimony from elderly individuals and a care home director reported by CGTN Africa provides specific insight into these hardships but remains unverified beyond that source for some details.
This ongoing humanitarian emergency in Sudan has dire implications for the health and survival of displaced elders. Access to medication, nutritional needs and family reconnections remain critical issues. As fighting continues, humanitarian agencies and Sudanese authorities face increased pressure to respond to the mounting needs of older displaced persons.
The exact scope of elderly displacement and the full operational status of care facilities like Aldaw Hajooj remain unclear. Cape Flats News will monitor developments and report updates as they become available from credible sources.