OCHA Sudan: West Darfur State Profile (March 2023)

BACKGROUND

West Darfur is in the western part of Sudan. It has borders with North Darfur and Central Darfur states and shares an international border with Chad. Its state capital is Ag Geneina town. The main tribes in the state are the Eringa, Gimir, Masalit, Misseriya Jebel, Sinngar, and Zaghawa. Conflict between Government forces and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) ceased in 2010 with the signing of a peace agreement with the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA), Liberation and Reform (LRM) faction and with the expulsion of JEM from the Jebel Moon mountains. Non-state armed movements that signed the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement (JPA) are present across the state.

Violent clashes among communities between 2019 and 2022 have weakened the social fabric and increased tensions, which are further exacerbated by unresolved land issues. More work is required on protection of civilians, rule of law, inter-communal reconciliation, local conflict resolution mechanisms and peaceful coexistence of ethnic groups.

There are 13 camps, 16 neighbourhoods and 25 villages in the state hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs), according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mobility Tracking Round Five.

HUMANITARIAN OVERVIEW

Conflict, protracted displacement, food insecurity, climate-related hazards (floods, dry spells), disease outbreaks and inadequate access to basic social services are the main drivers of humanitarian needs in West Darfur.
Increased conflict in Ag Geneina, Jebel Moon and Kereneik localities since 2021 has led to the primary and secondary displacement of an estimated 250,000 people across the state.

WEST DARFUR IN NUMBERS

1.9 million population in 2023 (National: 49.7 million)

112 in 1,000 number of children who die before their 5th birthday (National: 68)

94.8% children who complete primary school and continue to secondary school (National: 90.7%)

87.8% percentage of literate young women (15 – 24 years) (National: 59.8%)

43.9% percentage of girls married before the age of 18 (National 38%)

35.2% chronic malnutrition (severe and moderate) prevalence among children U5 (National: 38.2%)

19.1% GAM (Global Acute Malnutrition) prevalence among children U5 (National: 16.3%)

90,019 number of children U5 suffering from GAM (National: 3.1 million)

632,128 number of people projected at IPC phase 3 & 4 (Oct 2022 – Feb 2023) (National: 7.7 million)

67.5% percentage of people with access to improved drinking water (National: 68%)