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CONTEXT
Since April 2023, the armed conflict in Sudan has triggered one of the largest protection and displacement crises in recent history, marked by extreme violence and repeated attacks on civilians. According to the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan Sudan, there are 24.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, with over 11 million forcibly displaced people since April 20232 . The primary states of origin for displaced populations are Khartoum (33%), South Darfur (19%), and North Darfur (15%).
Children under the age of 18 constitute the majority of IDPs (53%), and 54% are female. These populations have endured several traumatic experiences, including forced displacement, bereavements, family separation, restriction of movements, emotional, physical, sexual abuses, and deprivation of access to resources and basic services. Widespread sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including rape, gang rape, abduction and enslavement, has been used as a tactic of war by parties to the conflict. Civilians continue to face targeted attacks based on ethnicity, theft, and extortion.
According UNFPA, over 6.9 million women and girls, as well as an increasing number of men and boys, are at risk of GBV across Sudan4 . Pre-existing risks, such as sexual exploitation, child labour, and forced or child marriages, have escalated and are often used as negative coping mechanisms. The collapse of Sudan’s public sector, destruction of the agricultural economy, and soaring inflation have severely restricted access to medical supplies, livelihoods, education, and protection services.
While most IDPs remain in their regions of origin, the Northern State now hosts 489,939 IDPs. The growing and constant influx of IDPs is severely straining the already fragile and limited infrastructure and services. As the security situation remains dire or worsens, new arrivals are anticipated. Over the past year and a half, most IDPs have arrived in the Northern State in desperate situations, stressed and traumatized by hardship situations and risky journeys. Access to protection and basic services such as health, shelter, food, and education remains challenging and limited.
To better understand the current situation and needs faced by IDPs and host communities in the Northern State of Sudan, CESVI conducted a multi-sectorial assessment in October 2024. This report presents the key findings by sector and proposes recommendations for partners and donors to address the critical gaps and improve the humanitarian response.