Attachments
IFRC Secretariat Funding requirement: CHF 33.5 million
Federation-wide funding requirement: CHF 42 million
TIMELINE
15 April 2023: Clashes break out in Khartoum, Sudan between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leaving millions of people caught amidst the crossfire.
20 April 2023: The IFRC launches the Sudan Complex Emergency Appeal for CHF 60 million to support and protect 800,000 people by the end of 2025.
May 2023: CHF 2,161,399 million is allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) to the Egyptian Red Crescent, Chad Red Cross, Ethiopian Red Cross, and South Sudanese Red Cross.
May 2023: IFRC Surge Capacity (Rapid Response personnel) is deployed to support the National Societies of Chad, Ethiopia, and the IFRC Africa Regional Office.
30 May 2023: The IFRC issues an Emergency Appeal for CHF 42 million to assist and protect up to 705,700 people in neighbouring countries – Chad, the Central African Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya and South Sudan - by the end of 2025.
30 June 2023: The number of displaced people recorded in neighbouring countries reaches 630,136. Second DREF allocation to South Sudan and Egypt is approved, bringing the total DREF contribution to CHF3,465,832
DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to widespread displacement, with over 2 million people fleeing active conflict areas to find safety elsewhere in the country or across borders, primarily in Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan, but also in Ethiopia, the Central African Republic (CAR), and Libya. After more than two months of clashes, the situation in Sudan is still very volatile and as the fighting persists, the trend of displacements is likely to continue. The displaced population includes Sudanese refugees, returnees, and foreign nationals, and there are significantly higher proportions of women, children, and older people, according to the latest reports.
People arriving in neighbouring countries have endured a very dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, with many having been caught in the crossfire or at border crossings for several weeks without sustained access to basic goods and services such as water, food, and healthcare, all while under tremendous psychological pressure. Many have endured harassment and extortion, and reports of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) are growing.
Over the border, whether in transit or at a final destination, other challenges arise for refugees as well, such as how to protect their families and meet basic needs. And while host governments and communities have welcomed refugees and returnees, the dimensions of this crisis have still far exceeded the capacity of most host communities and local authorities. People are arriving physically and psychologically exhausted, sometimes severely injured, without food, water or shelter, and with no means to cover the cost of basic necessities. Many are anxious for news from their loved ones and urgently need to communicate with their families. This situation could last for several more days, weeks, or even longer, until a solution is found, while the risk of refugees adopting negative survival coping mechanisms increases by the day. Of particular concern are women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and those in need of special attention. The poorest host families will face challenges to meet their own basic needs given the pre-existing and exacerbating humanitarian needs, which has already led to inter-community tensions. This situation will become more acute as new refugees and returnees increase, as is expected.
The escalation of the conflict in Sudan, as well as recurring floods impacting South Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia are expected to worsen an already dire situation in some of the affected areas by displacements from Sudan.