Attachments
The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) was activated on 25 May 2023 to support the humanitarian response following the outbreak of conflict on 15 April 2023. The ETC is led by WFP in Sudan. ETC Situation Reports (SitReps) are produced monthly.
Highlights
• The ETC successfully installed connectivity at additional sites including the IOM warehouse in Kassala on 06 January. Additionally, the ETC installed connectivity at sites in Port Sudan including the Female UN guesthouse (‘Pink House’) and the new UNDSS guesthouse on 28 January, as well as the new WFP office building in Port Sudan on 30 January.
• The ETC has increased engagement with partners, holding meeting with UNICEF, IOM, UNFPA, CRS, ADRA and the INGO Forum throughout the month to explore opportunities to improve coordination and strengthen collaboration.
• The ETC is exploring opportunities to scale up the Services for Communities (S4C) pillar of its operations. ETC is working with partners to identify and prioritize suitable existing ‘safe spaces’ that provide services to affected populations and require ETC connectivity to maintain and improve services.
Situation overview
The security situation in Sudan remains highly volatile with a substantial surge in fighting during the beginning of the year. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to control much of Darfur and the West of the country, and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) maintain control over key cities in the East. SAF achieved severable notable victories during January, including making strategic territorial gains in the North of Khartoum and retaking the capital city of Kosti state, Wad Madani. There is expected to be a subsequent influx of returnees to Wad Madani and the humanitarian community is preparing to provide support once access has been granted.
As a result of the renewed intensity of the conflict, there has been an increase in ‘revenge’ attacks on critical civilian infrastructure. Drone strikes and other attacks have been reported across Northern State, River Nile, Sennar, White Nile, and Al-Gedaref. Fighting also continues around El-Fasher, where RSF forces are seeking to gain control of the capital city of North Darfur State, with a drone strike reported to have targeted the last functioning hospital in the city.