The escalating confrontation between two rival generals in Sudan has resulted in the displacement of close to 1.4 million people since its inception in April, according to a recent report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This report released on Sunday uncovers the escalating disaster overwhelming this African country, which was already dealing with the displacement of its own people due to ongoing political unrest.
Even before the heightened conflict, several million people within Sudan were displaced internally and the nation was a haven for 1.13 million more fleeing strife in nations such as South Sudan, Eritrea, and Syria, based on UNHCR statistics. The current wave of violence has led to another mass movement of people, prompting them to desert their homes and seek refuge either within Sudan or in surrounding countries.
The conflict that sparked on April 15 has resulted in internal displacement of over a million people within Sudan, according to the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix. The displacement numbers from April 15 to May 23 alone equate to the total displacement accounted for in Sudan from 2020 to 2022, underscoring the intensity of the prevailing crisis.
Further exacerbating the situation, by May 26, an additional 345,000 individuals had sought sanctuary from Sudan in neighboring countries such as Egypt, Chad, and Ethiopia, as stated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This large-scale displacement is compounded by increasing incidences of gender-based and domestic violence among displaced Sudanese communities, as reported by the UN Population Fund. More distressing are allegations of sexual violence against women and girls associated with the warring factions, as highlighted by Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.
At the center of this predicament is the feud between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their adversaries, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Despite a week-long ceasefire agreement that commenced on May 22, brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States, the violence continues unabated, raising fears of increased conflict once the ceasefire concludes.
Against this backdrop, thousands of Sudanese families have been forced to undertake perilous journeys from Khartoum and other areas of Sudan, either striving to survive on their own or escaping to nearby poverty-stricken countries. With Western and regional nations focused on evacuating their own citizens, the local populace grapples with a grim reality.
As of May 23, Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health reports a death toll of at least 730 individuals and around 5,500 injuries. The UN corroborates that the conflict has claimed the lives of at least eight humanitarian workers and eight health workers since it began.
Reports suggest widespread destruction across the country, including damage to civilian infrastructures, instances of looting, and presence of unexploded devices in urban locations. Health care facilities have been under continuous attack, with at least 38 assaults since April 15, according to the World Health Organization. The health situation is so dire that in one hospital in Ad Du’ayn, East Darfur, over 30 babies died due to lack of oxygen and a power outage.
In Zalingi, a western Sudanese town, there have been numerous instances of homes, schools, banks, governmental institutions, and humanitarian spots being pillaged. Essential services such as water, electricity, and telecommunications have been cut off.
Adding to the overall risk, the UN Mine Action Service reports a growing number of unexploded ordnance in Khartoum and other urban areas in Sudan, found in structures, roads, and surrounding areas.
In spite of these adversities, the UN affirms that its humanitarian partners are working diligently to expedite supplies to the most vulnerable regions. However, continued instability and transport challenges obstruct these endeavors.
As Sudan’s conflict amplifies, the humanitarian crisis worsens by the day. The international community’s focus is needed now more than ever as Sudan grapples with escalating violence and its devastating aftermath.
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