Attachments
Key figures
134*
INTER-AGENCY PARTNERS
860,000
REFUGEES AND RETURNEES PROJECTED BY OCTOBER 2023
$445 million
TOTAL INTER-AGENCY REQUIREMENTS
In support of
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
CHAD
EGYPT
ETHIOPIA
SOUTH SUDAN
*Partners are counted as unique for each country if they participate in the response in different countries
Situation overview
This Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) summary outlines the preliminary inter-agency response and activities to support countries’ efforts to protect and assist refugees and refugee returnees, and others, coming from Sudan. It includes initial estimated financial requirements for six months for 134 partners (including UN Agencies, national and international NGOs and civil society actors), to respond to the crisis, working alongside host governments.
On 15 April, fighting erupted in Khartoum, Sudan, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Fighting was also reported in other areas of the country including Merowe in the Northern State as well as Darfur. Despite repeated promises of a ceasefire, hostilities have lasted for 18 consecutive days, with the death toll tragically exceeding 500 people, along with nearly 4,600 wounded since the conflict began. Many more are thought to have died due to the disruption of critical services, including health care.
The humanitarian situation in Sudan is dire due to food, water, and fuel shortages, limited access to communications and electricity, and skyrocketing prices of essential items. Rising costs of fuel as well as transport makes it increasingly difficult for people to leave conflict-affected areas. Access to health care has also been critically impacted by the conflict, with direct attacks on healthcare facilities as well as severe shortages of medicines and vital supplies. The clashes are adding another layer of complexity to an already challenging humanitarian situation in Sudan, as almost 16 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023 before the crisis started.
Prior to the crisis, Sudan, which has a long record of generously hosting, was home to over 1 million refugees - the second highest refugee population in Africa - mainly from South Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, and Ethiopia, as well as the Central African Republic, Chad and Yemen. Over the years, several bouts of conflict have also forced people to flee within Sudan, with over 3.7 M people internally displaced and over 800,000 Sudanese refugees seeking safety across borders, mainly in the neighbouring countries of Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Central African Republic and Ethiopia.
The current fighting has already displaced over 330,000 people inside Sudan. In addition, over 100,000 refugees and returnees have left Sudan. Among those fleeing are also South Sudanese returning home in adverse conditions and others who were themselves refugees in Sudan fleeing into neighbouring countries. The most significant cross-border movements so far have been Sudanese refugees arriving in Chad and Egypt, and South Sudanese returning to South Sudan. This includes more than 30,000 new arrivals in Chad, 30,000 in South Sudan, 47,000 Sudanese in Egypt and around have accessed Egypt and around 10,000 new arrivals in CAR. Ethiopia has seen 11,000 new arrivals, while in Libya and Eritrea contingency planning for a comparatively smaller number of arrivals is ongoing.
Without a resolution to the crisis, more people will be forced to flee in search of safety and basic assistance. In consultation with the concerned governments and partners, UNHCR has been undertaking coordinated contingency planning for new arrivals (refugees, returning refugees and others, including third country nationals) to CAR, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Eritrea and Libya, and has arrived at an initial planning figure of some 860,000 people that may flee to the 7 neighbouring countries. The figures are projections used for financial and operational planning. Of these some 580,000 would be Sudanese, some 235,000 would be refugees previously hosted by Sudan returning to their home countries in adverse conditions, and 45,000 refugees of other nationalities hosted by Sudan. Among these movements, there will also be a smaller number of third country nationals who are seeking safety. UNHCR is working hand-in-hand with IOM at several border crossings to help all people fleeing Sudan, to register those in need of protection, identify the most vulnerable and help determine the different population groups leaving the country.
Given the very fluid situation, with the number of new arrivals steadily increasing, this document outlines the preliminary needs. A full-fledged Regional RRP will be launched next week, which may include revised budgets, to take into account the results of ongoing interagency missions to border locations and multisector needs assessments.