NRC Sudan: Telecommunications, Protection, and Food – April 2024 – Sudan

Internet access is vital for Sudanese civilians amidst ongoing war, providing essential information, aiding in finding safe areas and routes, connecting to life-saving assistance, and accessing financial services amid the country’s worst humanitarian crisis. Telecommunications have suffered severe disruptions since the war’s onset. In 2023, Central, West, and South Darfur faced prolonged blackouts, while February 2024 saw a nationwide near blackout due to infrastructure targeting. Although some connections were restored in the East, large portions of the country remain cut off, particularly in conflict (Map 2) and hunger-prone areas (Map 3). For many civilians, the only available survival strategy has been to access internet through satellite services, such as Starlink.