Sudan conflict has displaced more than 7.3 million people: UN

January 6, 2023 (PORT SUDAN) – More than 7.3 million people have fled their homes in Sudan, taking refuge inside and outside the country since fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in the capital, Khartoum on 15 April 2023, the United Nations has said.

Children, it stated, represent about half of the displaced Sudanese population.

Sudan is now the country with the largest number of displaced people and the largest child displacement crisis in the world, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.

“The total number of people displaced within Sudan has increased by an estimated 500,000 people in one month, mainly due to people newly displaced from Wad Medani and surrounding areas in Aj Jazirah State who sought safety and shelter in other states since 15 December 2023,” its report reads in part.

According to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM) Sudan Weekly Displacement Snapshot (15), more than 5.9 million people have been displaced and are in 6,213 locations across the country.

The highest proportions of IDPs, IOM figures show, are in the states of South Darfur (13%), East Darfur (11%), River Nile (11%), Aj Jazirah (8%) and North Darfur (8%).

The majority of people, accounting for 61% were displaced from Khartoum State; followed by South Darfur (16%), North Darfur (8%), Aj Jazirah (5 %), Central Darfur (4%), West Darfur (3%) and other states, data from the UN refugee body indicates.

Also, it said, 1.4 million people crossed into neighbouring countries since April 2023.

Due to a recent conflict between the SAF and RSF in Medani and Sharg Aj Jazirah localities in Aj Jazirah state, widespread displacement was observed across Aj Jazriah, Sennar and White Nile states resulting in approximately 234,000 individuals secondarily displaced during December 2023, according to IOM DTM.

Separately, in North Kordofan State, about 420 people were reportedly displaced on 29 December 2023 after inter-communal clashes erupted between Nuba, Al Asra, and Shanabla tribesmen in Arsh Al Yoi village in Um Rawaba locality, North Kordofan State, while the cause of the violence, however, remains unknown.

In South Darfur State, renewed armed clashes renewed on 29 December 2023, between the SAF and the RSF in Nyala left 10 people dead and another 13 injured.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Sudan, the Chadian National Commission for Reception and Reintegration of Refugee and Returnees, UNHCR and IOM have noted an influx of people forced to flee including Sudanese refugees and Chadian returnees who arrived spontaneously in Chad through over 32 border entry points in the three provinces of Ouaddai, Sila and Wadi-Fira in Eastern Chad.

From the onset of the influx, however, humanitarian teams are reportedly working in support of the Chadian government and local authorities to provide life saving assistance and a set of protection services both in spontaneous sites and also in the extension as well as newly established settlements.

As of date under the leadership of the Government and UNHCR 44% of refugees have been relocated from the spontaneous arrival sites to both the extension and newly established settlements where refugees and host communities benefit from the services delivered by the humanitarian teams.

(ST)