Sudan: Nine months of conflict - Key Facts and Figures (15 January 2024)

Nine months after war erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April 2023, Sudan is facing one of the fastest unfolding crises globally, with unprecedented needs emerging in such a short period.

About 25 million people – of whom over 14 million are children – need humanitarian assistance and support. More than 7.4 million people – about 15 per cent of the total population of the country – have fled their homes since the conflict started.

They have sought refuge within Sudan or in neighbouring countries, making Sudan the largest displacement crisis in the world.

With every second person in Sudan in need of humanitarian assistance, the UN and partners are aiming to reach 14.7 million people with assistance through 2024.

More than 6 million people displaced within Sudan and 1.4 million crossed the borders

More than 7.4 million people have been displaced by fighting within Sudan and neighbouring countries. More than 6 million of them have been displaced and are sheltering mainly with host communities in 6,282 locations across Sudan’s 18 states, according to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM). About 1.4 million people have sought refuge in the neighbouring countries of Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan as of 15 January, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). With close to 4 million children displaced, Sudan is facing the largest child displacement crisis in the world. The internally displaced people (IDPs) are originally from 12 states, with the majority - about 3.7 million people (61 per cent of all IDPs post-April) - from Khartoum. Most sought refuge in South Darfur followed by River Nile, East Darfur, Aj Jazirah, White Nile, North Darfur, Sennar, Northern, Gedaref, Central Darfur – most of which saw high levels of violence recently – and other states. As the conflict spread into Aj Jazirah in December, more than half a million people had to flee in a month, many for a second time having previously displaced from Khartoum.

Close to 9,600 suspected cholera cases, other disease outbreaks

Disease outbreaks are increasing in the face of disruptions of basic public health services, including disease surveillance, functioning public health laboratories and rapid response teams. In addition, insecurity, displacement, limited access to medicines, medical supplies, electricity, and water continue to pose enormous challenges to delivering health care across the country. About 65 per cent of the population lack access to healthcare and between 70 - 80 per cent of hospitals in conflict-affected areas are no longer functional. About 9,600 suspected cases of cholera, including 264 deaths, have been reported from nine states as of 13 January, according to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Other disease outbreaks are ongoing in several states, including measles, malaria and dengue fever