Sudan Situation Report, 24 Jul 2023 [EN/AR]

HIGHLIGHTS

• Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have continued for nearly three months.

• More than 3 million people have been displaced due to the conflict both internally and across the border into neighbouring countries.

• There has been an alarming increase in the number of sexual assault cases across the country.

• With the onset of the rainy season, there is an increased risk of disease outbreaks, compounded by lack of access to health care in many parts of the country.

• Challenges, including insecurity, bureaucratic access impediments and looting of humanitarian supplies, are hampering the delivery of assistance at scale.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have continued since mid-April for nearly three months, with violence recently being reported in Khartoum, Kordofan states, Darfur states and Blue Nile. In past days, fighting involving various branches of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has taken place in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. At least 1,136 people have reportedly been killed and 12,000 injured due to the conflict, according to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) as of 5 July. These figures have yet to be verified and only reflect data collected from hospitals, and actual figures are likely much higher. Most of the deaths are reported in Khartoum, North Kordofan and West Darfur states.

The widespread use of conventional weapons including field artillery, mortars, air-dropped weapons and anti-aircraft guns during the clashes have left unexploded ordnances (UXOs) in Khartoum and other urban areas such as Al Obeid in North Kordofan, Al Fasher in North Darfur, Ag Geneina in West Darfur and Nyala in South Darfur, according to the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

New displacement continues to be reported across the country, with over 3 million people who have now left their homes due to the conflict. This includes more than 2.4 million people displaced internally, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as of 11 July. The vast majority of people (72 per cent) have been displaced from Khartoum State (1.7 million), followed by West Darfur (11 per cent), North Darfur (7 per cent), South Darfur (7per cent), and Central Darfur (5 per cent) states. The majority of displaced people are staying with host communities, while only a small percentage of them have taken refuge in camps or shelters for displaced people. In addition, about 650,000 refugees, asylum seekers and returnees have crossed the border into neighbouring countries, including Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as of 11 July.

The number of sexual assault cases is sharply increasing. The Combating Violence Against Women Unit (CVAW), under Sudan’s Ministry of Social Development, has reported 97 cases since the outbreak of conflict as of 11 July. This includes 51 cases in Khartoum, 25 in Nyala (South Darfur) and 21 in Ag Geneina (West Darfur). Actual numbers are likely much higher due to shame, stigma and fear of reprisal. Additionally, the CVAW reported the alleged kidnapping of two girls from their home in Bahri (Khartoum North) on 4 July and of a minor girl in Omdurman on 2 July. The heads of UN entities issued a statement on 5 July condemning the increasing reports of gender-based violence in Sudan and stressing the need to swiftly scale up gender-based violence prevention and response services in Sudan as well as in neighbouring countries, where those fleeing violence have sought safety as refugees.

Access to health care continues to be limited by the conflict, shortages of supplies, damage or occupation of facilities and assaults on medical staff. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an increase in the number of attacks on health care in Sudan and the occupation of health facilities such as the National Public Health Laboratory, the Federal Ministry of Health’s National Medical Supply Funds Warehouse in Khartoum and the Central Blood Bank. WHO has verified 50 attacks on health care, resulting in 10 deaths and 21 injuries between 15 April and 11 July.

With the onset of the rainy season, there is an increased risk of outbreaks of water-borne and vector-borne diseases compounded by challenges in waste management in Khartoum and other conflict-affected states posing significant health risks. Interruption of vector control efforts to contain dengue fever and malaria is a concern. Reports of cases of severe acute malnutrition, dengue, measles and acute watery diarrhoea cases are being received by WHO from different states.