SITUATION OVERVIEW
As the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues across the country, more people are being displaced and humanitarian needs are increasing daily.
To date, more than 4 million people have been displaced inside and outside the country due to the conflict that erupted on 15 April. Nearly 3.3 million people have been displaced internally as of 8 August, according to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM). People have been displaced across all 18 states. The majority are in River Nile, Northern, North Darfur and White Nile states. About 71 per cent of internally displaced people (IDPs) are originally from Khartoum.
The Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, issued a statement on 9 August calling on parties to the conflict to allow civilians safe passage out of conflict zones in Khartoum, Darfur and other areas of active hostilities. She noted that this was agreed in Jeddah on 11 May 2023 by the signatories to the Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan and urged the parties to follow through on their commitments to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law.
On 11 August, the World Food Programme (WFP) highlighted a major breakthrough: For the first time since the start of the conflict in mid-April, a WFP convoy was able to deliver food assistance to West Darfur State. Five trucks transporting 125 metric tonnes (MT) of food supplies crossed the border from eastern Chad to West Darfur, where one month’s worth of food assistance was delivered for around 15,400 people in the villages of Adikong, Shukri and Jarabi between 3 and 5 August. The situation in the Darfur region, particularly in West and Central Darfur, is dire, with towns and villages abandoned following a mass exodus of people due to the conflict. Those who remain are mostly women and their children, who are acutely vulnerable and have not fled because they are too scared to leave, according to WFP. These families are barely surviving: Most are eating just one meal a day, sharing what food they have with neighbours and selling what they own simply to afford food. Some markets are beginning to reopen, with limited food coming in from Chad, but WFP reports that food is still their most urgent need.
On 8 August, Save the Children (SC) issued a statement on the serious health risks in Khartoum State, with thousands of corpses reportedly decomposing on the streets and morgues at a breaking point due to power outages and insufficient capacity to store the bodies. As there is no medical staff left at the morgues, the bodies are being left untreated, according to the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, a doctor's union. Out of 89 main hospitals in the capital and states, 71 are out of service, with the remainder operating at partial capacity. Some health facilities have been occupied by armed groups, taking life-saving treatment away from millions of children and their families.
The Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ahmed Al-Mandhari, warned on 10 August that 39 per cent of Sudan’s population is expected to be malnourished over the next six months due to fighting that since mid-April has limited people’s access to medicines, medical supplies, electricity and water.
While the conflict has affected health services in states directly impacted by the fighting, states that have not witnessed active conflict are also suffering from the lack of supplies, especially as newly displaced people are arriving from conflict areas. Currently, an estimated 11 million people in Sudan need urgent health assistance, including about 4 million children and pregnant and breastfeeding women who are acutely malnourished, and more than 100,000 children under the age of five with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with medical complications who need specialized care at stabilization centres. Hospitals, ambulances, supplies, warehouses, health workers and patients have been attacked in Sudan. Through the Surveillance System on Attacks on Health Care (SSA), WHO has verified 53 attacks on health care, including 11 deaths and 38 injuries between 15 April and 13 August 2023.
There have been reports of up to 13,500 people affected by heavy rains and flooding in North Darfur, Northern and White Nile states. In North Darfur, heavy rains reported in El Fasher Town between 5 and 8 August destroyed the homes of more than 1,300 IDP families, affecting about 10,000 people in Zamzam and As Salam displacement camps, according to IOM DTM. In addition, about 360 latrines were destroyed and 440 others damaged. People newly displaced in Zamzam and As Salam IDP camps reportedly do not have any shelter from the rain and are exposed to critical protection and health risks. Protection partners reported cases of sexual harassment in overcrowded shelter spaces during the rain. Health partners noted that to avoid this overcrowding and its consequences, girls preferred to stay outside in the yard under the trees, exposing themselves to health risks. The rains are also leading to the deterioration of the hygiene and sanitation situation, with reports of open defecation and high rates of diarrhoea and infections among IDPs. The official state news agency SUNA reported that heavy rains have affected Dongola, Merowe, Ad Dabbah, Al Golid, Al Burgaig and Halfa localities of Northern State, leading to the destruction of and damage to homes and farms. Preliminary reports suggest that a total of 300 homes have been destroyed or damaged, affecting about 1,500 people, according to SUNA. In White Nile State, heavy rains on 1 August reportedly destroyed 90 homes (affecting 450 people), damaged 310 homes (affecting 1,550 people), and killed three people in Aj Jabalain Town, Aj Jabalain locality. The people whose homes were destroyed have reportedly taken refuge in a mosque in the neighbourhood. The exact number of people affected by the floods has yet to be verified.
In 2022, heavy rains affected about 349,000 people across 15 states in Sudan, with 24,859 homes destroyed and 48,250 homes damaged. The rainy season is expected to significantly heighten risks of vector-borne disease outbreaks, as stagnant pools of water become breeding grounds for water-borne and vector-borne diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, rift valley fever and chikungunya.
As conflict continues across the country, some 7 million children are out of school in Sudan, and violence and displacement are putting children at grave risk. On 4 August, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced US$5 million in new funding for education in emergencies response in Sudan. The one-year grant will allow Save the Children (SC) and the UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF) to reach 86,000 vulnerable school-aged girls and boys who have been affected by the conflict in West Darfur and White Nile states. Activities will focus on improving access to quality, inclusive, gender-sensitive and child-friendly education by supporting learning centers, and ensuring teachers are trained and have the tools and incentives to do their jobs.
Despite a multitude of access challenges, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) led on-the-ground access and Civil-Military Coordination negotiations that have facilitated the movement of 673 trucks in June and July, carrying nearly 31,000 metric tons (MT) of relief items to vulnerable and displaced people in need. The active deconfliction and access negotiation system has allowed humanitarian partners to deliver relief items to Khartoum (2,892 MT), North Darfur (550 MT), North Kordofan (180 MT), South Kordofan (810 MT), West Kordofan (420 MT) and White Nile (10,897 MT). This included 30,300 MT of food items, 160 MT of emergency shelter and non-food items, and 170 MT of health and nutrition supplies. In July, 13 new localities were reached for the first time since 15 April through the OCHA Humanitarian Information Sharing Mechanism. These include Abu Jubayhah and Abassiya in South Kordofan, Ar Rahad and El Obeid of North Kordofan, An Nuhud and El Fula of West Kordofan, and seven localities in East Darfur including Ad Du'ayn, Abu Jabrah Abu Karinka, Adila, Assalaya, Bahr Al Arab, Al Firdous, Yassin and Shia'ria.
STATE UPDATES
The majority of people internally displaced across the country due to the conflict are from Khartoum State. IOM estimates that 2.3 million people fled their homes in Khartoum to other locations within the state or to other states. An estimated 38,500 people (about 1.65 per cent of the people displaced from the state) are currently displaced within Khartoum and have taken refuge within the localities of Bahri, Jebel Awlia, Karrari, Khartoum, Sharg An Neel, Um Bada, and Um Durman. About 60.5 per cent of the IDPs are living with relatives and the rest have rented accommodations.
IOM estimates that more than 44,000 people fleeing the conflict between SAF and RSF have taken refuge in 77 locations across Blue Nile State as of 8 August, an increase of about 1,900 people in one week. About 67 per cent of the displaced people are living with relatives and the remaining people are renting accommodations.
On 23 July, community leaders in Geisan locality, Blue Nile State reported the death of children due to an unknown disease, likely measles. A rapid response team from the State Ministry of Health (SMoH), supported by supplies from WHO and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), went to the locality to verify reports of the suspected measles outbreak. The team visited Adi and surrounding areas, which are controlled by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) Al Hilu faction. Preliminary findings of the mission indicated a widespread measles outbreak. The team reported that 794 suspected measles cases with 91 associated deaths were registered among children in the area between 20 May and 23 July. Insufficient basic services, including health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) also contributed to the high mortality rate. Discussions on response have started, and efforts to strengthen primary health care services in government-controlled areas, which surround areas controlled by SPLM-N, continue with the support of health partners. Geisan locality will be added to the vaccination plan developed by WHO and the SMoH to respond to the suspected measles outbreak in Wad Al Mahi locality. Children in SPLM-N areas have not received any vaccinations since 2011 due to inaccessibility and conflict in the area.
In South Darfur State, IOM reports that about 222,800 people fleeing the conflict between SAF and RSF have taken refuge in 24 locations across the state as of 8 August, a decrease of about 9,400 people in one week. About 74 per cent of the displaced people are living with relatives, 23 per cent are in IDP camps, 2 per cent have taken refuge in schools and public buildings, and 1 per cent have taken refuge in improvised shelters.
IOM and the government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) carried out a data collection exercise in seven previously inaccessible localities, identifying about 135,000 people displaced due to the conflict between SAF and RSF in six locations across East Darfur State as of 8 August. About 80 per cent of those displaced came from Khartoum. About 90 per cent of the displaced people are living with relatives, 8 per cent are renting accommodations, and 2 per cent are taking refuge in schools and other public buildings. In addition, IOM reports the movement of people through East Darfur towards the Bahri Samaha border crossing point into South Sudan.
OCHA coordinated the delivery of hundreds of metric tons (MT) of seeds from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to East Darfur on 5 August from Kosti in White Nile State for distribution there. On 7 August, 6 MT of millet seeds were distributed to five village committees in Abu Karinka locality for distribution to farmers. The remaining seeds will be distributed to 57 village committees across all nine localities in the state. According to FAO, some 70,000 farming families will benefit from these seeds. To allay fears about the late arrival of the seeds for planting, FAO affirms that the seeds are certified crop seeds that have short maturation varieties which are adaptable to the local environment.
At least 165,400 people fleeing fighting between SAF and RSF have taken refuge in the Kordofan region as of 8 August, according to IOM. This includes 66,200 people in North Kordofan, 66,100 people in South Kordofan, and 33,100 people in West Kordofan. The displaced people are in urgent need of food, shelter/non-food items (S/NFIs), WASH and health assistance. More than 143,000 people have taken refuge in areas controlled by the SPLM-N, according to partners on the ground. In addition, about 15,000 people (300 families) are taking refuge in gathering centres and school buildings in El Obeid town, the state capital of North Kordofan.
In South Kordofan, prices of commodities have increased due to the closure of the Kadugli-Dilling road by SPLM-N, which is preventing supplies from entering the town. In West Kordofan, RSF is imposing a heavy road tax on all goods coming from El Obeid. In North Kordofan, local sources reported that state authorities have imposed a curfew in El Obeid Town from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. until further notice. In addition, the riding of motorcycles has been banned across the state.
In Northern State, IOM reports that about 360,800 people fleeing the conflict between SAF and RSF have taken refuge in 234 locations across the state as of 8 August, a decrease of about 210 people in one week. About 81 per cent of the displaced people are living with relatives, 9 per cent have rented accommodations and 10 per cent have taken refuge in schools and public buildings. Humanitarian partners have reported that displaced people are reportedly self-relocating from rented houses or from relatives' houses to gathering sites due to their inability to pay rent or internal conflict with the families accommodating them. This is putting increasing pressure on existing gathering sites and leading to the creation of new sites. State authorities lack funding to construct emergency shelters for displaced people sheltering in schools or other public buildings.
On 5 August, heavy rains were reported in three localities of Northern State – Merowe, Al Golid and Dongola localities – affecting about 579 families, according to the HAC. This includes 450 families in Merowe (about 2,250 people), 58 families in Al Goild (about 300 people), and 71 families in Dongola (about 360 people). The affected families have taken refuge in the highlands within their home areas. They need tents, NFIs, solar lamps and anti-toxins from scorpions and snakes. Flood preparedness did not take place before the start of the rainy season due to shortages of supplies and the low capacity of government authorities to respond.
About 277,000 people fleeing the conflict between SAF and RSF have taken refuge in 498 locations across White Nile State as of 8 August, according to IOM. This is a decrease of about 4,400 people in one week. About 52 per cent of the displaced people are living with relatives, 30 per cent are in camp-like settings, 10 per cent have rented accommodations, and 7 per cent have taken refuge in schools and public buildings.
A suspected measles outbreak in refugee camps in White Nile continues to spread, with more than 650 deaths related to the suspected outbreak and malnutrition reported as of the end of July, according to the Refugee Consultation Forum (RCF). Nutrition screenings in July indicated that out of more than 23,000 children under five years who were screened, 16 per cent were identified to be suffering from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) and 4 per cent from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Improved access to drugs, medical supplies and other humanitarian stocks is urgently required. The rainy season is expected to significantly heighten risks of vector-borne disease outbreaks, as stagnant pools of water become breeding grounds for water-borne and vector-borne diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, rift valley fever and chikungunya.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE & CHALLENGES
Since the conflict broke out in mid-April, humanitarians have been working to reach vulnerable people in need of assistance. Humanitarian needs across the country are at record highs: An estimated 20.3 million people – over 42 per cent of the population – are expected to be food insecure between July and September 2023, according to the latest report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) for Sudan. This is nearly double the number of food-insecure people compared to the last IPC analysis conducted in May 2022. Funding shortfalls, the limited capacity of humanitarian personnel and government counterparts on the ground, lack of fuel needed for the transportation of humanitarian supplies and staff, lack of access to money in banks, and difficulties in delivering humanitarian supplies to areas outside state capitals due to insecurity have also affected the humanitarian response. These challenges are further compounded by power outages, as well as poor internet and telephone connectivity.
Despite the challenges, between April and July 2023, 93 humanitarian partners reached about 2.9 million people with life-saving assistance, including education, health, food, nutrition, water and protection services, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard, issued on 14 August 2023. Prior to the conflict in mid-April, 2.7 million people were reached with humanitarian assistance between January to March.
CLUSTER UPDATES
Education Cluster: Education Cluster partners continued to assist vulnerable children across the country. Between April and 15 July 2023, cluster partners reached 58,800 people with education assistance, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 1.4 per cent of the 4.3 million people targeted in the Revised 2023 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) that was issued in May 2023.
Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster: The Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) Cluster reports that 15 cluster partners reached 2.1 million people with different lifesaving food and livelihoods assistance between April and 15 July, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 13.8 per cent of the 15 million people targeted for assistance through the revised HRP.
Nutrition Cluster: Nutrition Cluster partners reached 106,700 people with nutrition assistance between April and 15 July, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 4.3 per cent of the 2.5 million people targeted for assistance through the revised HRP.
Health Cluster: Health Cluster partners and organizations continue to try to deliver health services across the country, despite facing significant challenges. Health care services have been heavily disrupted due to lack of access, lack of supplies, and lack of health staff, as they have relocated to safer areas. Partners – especially local actors, health care workers and volunteers – have mobilized to try and continue delivering services. Other challenges are technical or administrative in nature, such as disruptions to the electricity, water, communications and banking systems. Despite this, between April and 15 July health partners reached about 820,300 people with health services, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 10.8 per cent of the 7.6 million people targeted through the revised 2023 HRP.
The Health Cluster reports that there are 3.39 million doses of the Polio vaccine (nOPV2) available in the national cold chain in Khartoum. Due to problems with electricity, UNICEF has been providing fuel and oil for the generators until it is possible to move the vaccines to other states. However, due to insecurity it has not yet been possible to move the supplies to established hubs in other states. WHO and partners have developed a Polio National Emergency Action Plan, July 2023 to December 2024.
Protection – General: Protection Cluster partners reached 217,700 people with protection assistance between April and 15 July, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 6.1 per cent of the 3.6 million people targeted for assistance through the revised HRP.
Protection – Child Protection: Child Protection Cluster partners reached 24,100 children with assistance between April and 15 July, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 1.2 per cent of the 2 million children targeted for assistance through the revised HRP.
Protection - Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Gender-based Violence (GBV) partners report that all forms of GBV are increasing since the start of the conflict, with many cases of sexual violence against IDPs reported as they are fleeing from one state to another, and when homes are being looted while residents are still there. Domestic violence cases are also increasing. Risks of sexual violence and exploitation are extremely high as women and girls are displaced, in transit, in temporary shelters, and while awaiting visas at border crossings.
Between April and 15 July, GBV partners reached about 67,300 people with lifesaving GBV activities, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 5.2 per cent of the 1.3 million people targeted for assistance through the revised HRP. Activities included medical and clinical management of rape (CMR); legal assistance; psycho-social support (PSS); and awareness and material assistance to GBV survivors, as well as referral to appropriate services. Information sessions on GBV-related issues, including the availability of services and referral systems, were also carried out through community-based structures. There are 25 GBV partners in 15 states who continue to support existing services and are scaling up response efforts, with the establishment of confidential corners and women's centres in states hosting displaced people and in accessible areas in states affected by conflict. In areas with limited access to services, phone-based assistance in psychological first aid, PSS and GBV case management have been made available.
Since the start of the conflict in mid-April, 1,123 frontline service providers have been trained on GBV. This includes 516 people trained on remote (phone-based) psychosocial support, psychological first aid, referrals, emergency response planning, community awareness-raising sessions during conflicts, GBV in emergencies, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
Shelter and Non-Food Items (S/NFI) Cluster: The S/NFI Cluster partners reached 110,800 people with S/NFI assistance between April and 15 July, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 5.9 per cent of the 1.9 million refugees targeted for assistance through the revised HRP.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH): WASH Cluster partners reached 1.3 million people with WASH assistance between April and 15 July, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 21.3 per cent of the 6.1 million people targeted for assistance through the revised HRP.
Refugee Consultation Forum (RCF): The Refugee Consultation Forum (RCF) partners reached 659,900 refugees with support between April and 15 July, according to the Humanitarian Response Dashboard. This is 60.3 per cent of the 1.1 million people targeted for assistance through the revised HRP. RCF partners report that secondary internal refugee movements continue to be reported as refugees escape conflict hotspot areas, with 187,300 internal refugee movements recorded since mid-April. The majority of these internal refugee movements, about 144,500, are of South Sudanese refugees moving from Khartoum to White Nile State. There are also reports of refugees returning to their home countries due to the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Sudan, with an estimated 186,600 South Sudanese refugees returning to South Sudan reported to date. In addition, 382 Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers have returned to Ethiopia and 4,701 refugees from the Central African Republic (CAR) have returned to their country.
With the start of the rainy season, access to refugee camps in the west of White Nile State has become difficult due to poor road conditions, hampering the delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in need. Preparations for the new refugee site in Abu Dolou are ongoing. The site will have the capacity to host about 40,000 refugees and is anticipated to support decongestion from other refugee camps.
Logistics Cluster: The Logistics Cluster is currently providing storage services to partners at four locations across the country, including Port Sudan (Red Sea State), Wad Madani (Aj Jazirah State), Kosti (White Nile State) and Gedaref (Gedaref State). Over the past week, the Logistics Cluster has provided storage services of up to 2,939 cubic metres of relief supplies stored at warehouses in Port Sudan, Wad Madani and Kosti on behalf of six humanitarian partners. The Logistics Cluster, together with OCHA Civil-Military Coordination, has facilitated the movement of humanitarian convoys from Kosti to hard-to-reach locations.
On 3 August, 24 trucks carrying relief cargo of UNICEF, WHO, UNHCR and FAO left Kosti for Ad Du'ayn (East Darfur), Nyala (South Darfur), Al Fasher (North Darfur), Al Fula (West Kordofan), and Abu Jubayhah (South Kordofan). The convoy is moving slowly due to challenges mainly related to insecurity. So far only one truck has reached Abu Jubayhah locality and as of 14 August, the ten trucks destined for Al Fula, Ad Du’ayn and Nyala are close to Al Fula. The remaining 13 trucks for Al Fasher are still in El Obeid and will join the convoy that departed Kosti on 9 August.
Another convoy of 72 trucks carrying relief supplies from FAO, WFP, and WHO left Kosti on 9 August destined for Jebel Awlia (Khartoum), Al Fasher, Nyala, El Obeid, Al Fula and Abu Jubayhah localities. So far, 12 trucks reached Jebel Awlia on 11 August; 18 trucks destined for Al Fasher and Nyala have reached El Obeid; 4 trucks have reached their destinations in El Obeid, Al Fula and Abu Jubayhah; and the remaining trucks from Kosti were set to depart for Jebel Awlia.
FUNDING
Humanitarian partners urgently require additional resources to scale up relief efforts across Sudan. The revised Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requires US$2.6 billion to provide life-saving multisectoral assistance and protection services to 18.1 million people through the end of this year. To date, the appeal is only 25.4 per cent is funded, with $651 million received as of 14 August, according to the Financial Tracking Service.
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