Sudan: Humanitarian Update, 14 September 2023 [EN/AR]

HIGHLIGHTS

• The number of people displaced within and outside Sudan since mid-April is now 5.25 million.

• Sudan now has the highest number of internally displaced people globally.

• Up to 15,500 people displaced following inter-communal fighting in West Darfur State.

• FAO requires US$123 million to reach 10.1 million people across 17 states with vital livelihoods support.

• Cases of severe malnutrition have increased by 300 per cent in Aj Jazirah State.

• Heavy rains and flooding have affected about 59,100 people in six localities across the country since July.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

About 5.25 million people have had to leave their homes and flee to other locations within Sudan or in neighbouring countries since the start of conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in mid-April. Within Sudan, more than 4.1 million people have been displaced to 3,855 locations across all 18 states as of 12 September, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Sudan Response Situation Update, with most displaced to River Nile, South Darfur, East Darfur, Northern, Sennar and North Darfur states. The majority (69 per cent) are originally from Khartoum. In addition, over 1 million people have crossed to neighbouring countries as of 13 September, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Sudan now has the highest number of internally displaced people (IDPs) globally, according to a recent report from the international NGO Save the Children (SC). At least 7.1 million people, including an estimated 3.3 million children, are now displaced from their homes across the country, more than double the 3.2 million IDPs prior to the conflict that erupted mid-April, reports IOM DTM. The number of displaced people in Sudan now eclipses other war-affected countries with massive internal displacement, the next highest being Syria with 6.6 million people, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at 6.1 million people and Ukraine at 5.1 million people, reports SC. Many communities where newly displaced families are arriving were already facing challenges due to existing crises, with basic services extensively overstretched. At least 435 children have reportedly been killed during the conflict and a further 500 have died from hunger - although the exact toll is likely much higher.

Massive aid funding shortfalls, combined with reduced domestic food production and severe water shortages have left displaced families in a dire situation. Looting, delays in approvals of movements and attacks on humanitarian assets, including warehouses, have further hampered the relief effort and rendered nearly impossible the delivery of essentials to displaced families in some places, according to humanitarian organizations.