Krishnan Guru-Murthy to present Practical Action’s Sudanese work in BBC appeal
Channel 4 Newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy will shine a light on the plight of millions of Sudanese by presenting a BBC Radio 4 Appeal for Practical Action.
The appeal will ask listeners to support Practical Action’s work, with every donation made during the week campaign being matched, pound for pound, up to a total of £50,000, thanks to two generous supporters.
Earlier this year, Guru-Murthy reported from Sudan with Unreported World, highlighting the brutal impact of the ongoing conflict on people living there.
He saw first-hand how violence and civil war had combined with climate change to cause displacement and hunger on an enormous scale.
Host communities share their land and food, but a lack of access to water, tools and seeds mean that many are struggling to grow enough food.
Having seen the challenges facing families in Sudan, Krishnan is now lending his voice to raise awareness about the plight of communities affected by the conflict.
Practical Action has been in Sudan for more than 40 years, working with communities to rehabilitate farmland, grow nutritious food, and expand access to clean energy and water.
Better farming productivity is improving nutrition and strengthening food security, while better community management reduces tensions over natural resources.
The generosity of supporters has enabled us to continue our work and support many thousands of people to feed their families despite the war and cuts to US and UK Government aid.
On my visit to Sudan this year I was truly shocked by how extreme the conditions are that people have been forced into.
There is very little aid getting through to most of them and they are frightened. So, everything Practical Action are doing is needed in enormous quantities.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
With more than 12 million people forced from their homes over the course of the conflict, huge pressure is being placed on communities in safer areas of Sudan as they try to cope with the influx of displaced people.
Host communities share their land and food, but climate change and a lack of access to water tools and seeds often combine, so that many are struggling to grow enough food to cope.
Practical Action has been working in these areas of Sudan for generations. Thanks to the partnership between Practical Action staff and these communities, hope remains, even in the face of the largest displacement crisis in the world.
Practical Action’s work in Sudan is about going beyond humanitarian needs, offering people a future, rather than just survival.
Sarah Roberts, CEO of Practical Action
“It is about building resilience, making the most of natural resources, and giving people the tools to cope with the world’s largest displacement crisis.
“Working hand in hand with Sudanese communities, we are providing fundamental services like energy, water and agricultural support so people can feed their families, not just now, but when the violence ends.
“The BBC Radio 4 Appeal is a vital opportunity to raise awareness of this crisis, build support for our work and raise vital funds so we can reach more families with solutions that work.”
The Practical Action BBC Radio 4 Appeal, read by Krishnan Guru-Murthy, will be broadcast on Sunday 4 January 2026 at 07:54 and 21:25, repeated Thursday 8 January 2026 at 15:27. This will be available afterwards on BBC Sounds.