Attachments
IOM calls on all parties to ensure the safety of humanitarians and allow their unrestricted access to be able to assist those most vulnerable. IOM’s Revised Response Overview for the Sudan Crisis and Neighbouring Countries contributes to addressing the humanitarian needs inside Sudan and the complexities of a mixed movements response that is inclusive of the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrant returnees, third country nationals (TCNs), host communities, refugees and Government entities responding to the crisis. IOM’s planned response was coordinated with Governments and humanitarian partners.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The current conflict in Sudan has entered its six-month mark and has become the largest internal displacement crisis in the world with over 7.1 million people displaced within the country.
DTM Sudan estimates that 4,570,541 individuals (911,531 households) have been recently internally displaced. The IDP caseload has been observed in 4,658 locations across all of Sudan’s 18 states. The highest proportions of IDPs have been observed in River Nile (12.62%), South Darfur (11.23%), East Darfur (10.97%), Aj Jazirah (8.03%), Northern (7.92%), and North Darfur (7.37%). Field teams report that the IDPs observed were originally displaced from 8 states. The majority (3,127,888 IDPs, 68.44%) have been reportedly displaced from Khartoum state; followed by South Darfur (14.63%), North Darfur (7.94%), Central Darfur (4.01%), West Darfur (3.75%), South Kordofan (0.76%), North Kordofan (0.46%), and Aj Jazirah (0.01%). DTM Sudan also estimates that approximately 2.63% of the IDP caseload are non-Sudanese nationals.
In addition to the internal displacement, the conflict in Sudan has caused the mixed cross-border movements of 1,256,436 individuals into neighbouring countries namely Egypt, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Ethiopia. 65% of arrivals tracked in those countries were Sudanese nationals and 35% estimated foreign nationals and returnees. The majority of arrivals were reported in Chad (40.5%), Egypt (25.7%), and South Sudan (24.1%).
The surge of newly displaced people across Sudan during that six-month period has overwhelmed public services and resources in the areas of arrival, creating appalling living conditions for millions of people who face a daily struggle to survive. The situation is further exacerbated by significant damage to infrastructure, the collapse of banking and financial services, frequent interruptions to the internet, telecommunications and electricity supply and the destruction of health facilities. The sanitary situation remains dire, with more than 1,000 suspected cases in Gearef, Khartoum and Kordofan States. The food situation remains of high concern, with WFP estimating that 6 million people are on the verge of famine in the country.
The conflict continues to see heavy fighting, with reports of numerous civilian, and military and humanitarian workers victims (45 humanitarian workers have been killed or detained). In a recent statement, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths reported that over 9,000 people had been reported killed so far, and 25 million people in need of aid. Calls to put an end to the fighting and to allow unhindered humanitarian access have been launched by multiple actors, including from IOM’s Director General Amy Pope, at the occasion of the 6-month mark of the conflict.
Heavy fighting and airstrikes continue to be reported in Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri, including in residential areas, as well as at the border between Khartoum and Aj Jazirah states. In Central Sudan, authorities in Aj Jazirah state deployed a large security presence in areas bordering Khartoum State.
In Omdurman, the intensification of the shelling has been leading residents to flee away from their homes. On 13 October, 17 people were killed in a bombing targeting several neighborhoods.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir says that he will host peace talks in the capital Juba next week, with representatives of Sudanese political leaders. Mediation will aim at relaunching talks around the Juba Peace Agreement signed in 2020, in hope of putting an end to the conflict.
IOM has been at the forefront of the response since the onset of the crisis, providing life-saving assistance to over 444,000 people in Sudan. The Organization is expanding its operations by opening new offices in cities including Kosti, Wad Madani and Wadi Halfa.