Bara: The Forgotten Crisis — Emergency Relief for Displaced Families

In the heart of North Kordofan, the town of Bara has become the epicenter of one of Sudan’s most devastating yet underreported humanitarian crises.
In late October 2025, the town witnessed a rapid escalation of violence that forced thousands of residents to flee their homes. After weeks of intense fighting, the situation deteriorated dramatically — resulting in civilian casualties, mass displacement, and widespread suffering.

Reports from humanitarian and medical sources confirm that over 4,500 people have fled Bara, escaping under dire conditions. Many walked through unsafe terrain, with no food, no water, and little shelter—hoping to find safety in El Obeid, around 60 kilometers to the south.

As communications and access routes were disrupted, families endured long journeys amid fear and hunger. Many of those displaced include children, mothers, and the elderly, who now face severe shortages of basic needs.

• 4,500+ people have fled Bara, with 1,900 reaching El Obeid and others still on dangerous roads.
• Families are sleeping in open areas without shelter or access to clean water.
• 50 civilians, including five Sudanese Red Crescent volunteers, were killed while delivering food aid.
• Hospitals and humanitarian teams in El Obeid are overwhelmed and running out of supplies.

The Sudanese American Medical Association (SAMA), in partnership with trusted local teams, is launching an emergency food relief campaign to support displaced families arriving in El Obeid.

Our immediate goal is to raise $5,000 to provide lifesaving food assistance for those who fled Bara.

Every contribution helps deliver warm meals and essential nutrition to people who have lost everythi

In response to the growing humanitarian crisis and large-scale displacement from Bara, SAMA partnered with We Are All Values Organization (WAV) to deliver urgent food assistance to newly displaced families who arrived in Aldaba town (Aldaba Locality) in critical conditions, with limited access to food and no stable income.

Between 22–27 November 2025, the team conducted a coordinated emergency distribution in collaboration with HAC, the Social Welfare Department, and Camp Management authorities to ensure a fair, transparent, and well-organized response. Beneficiaries were selected based on vulnerability criteria, prioritizing female-headed households, elderly individuals, persons with disabilities, households with no income, and newly displaced families.

Through this intervention, WAV successfully distributed 120 food baskets supporting approximately 600 individuals. Each basket contained essential food items including sugar, lentils, rice, flour, oil, onions, and bilila, providing immediate relief and helping reduce the economic pressure on displaced households.

To strengthen accountability and safe access to services, Protection and Complaints & Feedback Mechanism (CFM) teams were present throughout the process, supporting verification, organized distribution, and facilitation for vulnerable individuals.

Thank you for your generous donation and for standing with families displaced by the Bara crisis. Your compassion made this emergency response possible and brought immediate relief to people during an incredibly difficult time.

Our fundraising campaign for this response is now closed, but your support is still deeply needed. You can continue to support SAMA’s ongoing humanitarian efforts by donating through our website: https://sama-sd.org/donate/