Key Points

• Many public protests and demonstrations took place in Khartoum and other towns this week following announcements by the Government of austerity measures to address the US$2.4 billion budget deficit, including the gradual removal of subsidies on fuel and sugar. There are concerns that the price increases will further impact the poorest and most vulnerable people in a country where some 4 million people are already receiving humanitarian aid.

• The number of refugees from South Kordofan and Blue Nile that have fled to South Sudan and Ethiopia rose this week to over 200,000, according to UNHCR.

• In South Kordofan, WFP completed food distributions in Talodi, Gadir and El Leri localities, with food distributions expected to commence shortly in Abu Jubaiha, Rashad and El Abassiya localities.

• In Abyei, the total number of returnees to areas north of the Bahr el Arab/Kiir River is now some 9,400 people, according to UNISFA.

• Since October 2010, more than 405,000 people of South Sudanese origin have returned from Sudan to South Sudan, according to IOM.