Sudan Humanitarian Update (7 October 2023)
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Fighting in Sudan continues to displace civilians. An estimated 5.5 million people have fled their homes since fighting erupted in mid-April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). They have sought refuge within Sudan or in neighbouring countries.
According to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM) Snapshot 5, about 4.4 people have been displaced within Sudan since the fighting began. Those displaced have sought refuge in 4,403 locations—an increase of 323 new locations since 27 September—across all of Sudan’s 18 states. IOM reports that people have been displaced from eight states, with the majority - about 3 million people (68 per cent of all internally displaced) - originally from Khartoum. Most newly displaced have sought refuge in River Nile followed by South Darfur, East Darfur, Aj Jazirah, Northern and North Darfur states. About 1.1 million people have crossed into neighbouring Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan as of 1 October, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
According to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) as of 8 September 1,265 people have been killed, 8,396 others have been injured, while an additional 6,177 people have been injured due to causes indirectly linked to the fighting between SAF and RSF, reports the World Health Organization (WHO). This is based on reports received from health facilities, but the actual number of casualties is likely much higher.
According to the latest WHO Sudan Health Emergency Situation Report, several disease outbreaks have been reported. More than 70 per cent of health facilities in states affected by conflict are not working, resulting in extremely limited – and sometimes no – access to health care for millions of people. WHO reports 4,123 suspected measles cases with 107 associated deaths across 12 of Sudan’s 18 states (Aj Jazirah, Blue Nile, East Darfur, Gedaref, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, West Kordofan, and White Nile). The largest number of suspected measles cases has been reported in White Nile, with 3,117 cases and 98 associated deaths as of 22 September. 736,507 clinical malaria cases and 22 associated deaths are reported across 12 states, while suspected dengue fever cases have reached 4,097 with 13 associated deaths. Suspected cholera cases have been reported in Gedaref, South Kordofan and Khartoum states with 817 cases and 35 associated deaths as of 29 September. The Federal Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref State on 26 September, where 264 suspected cases - of which 80 have been confirmed through rapid diagnostic tests - and 16 associated deaths have been reported. Acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases have also been registered in Khartoum and South Kordofan. Still, limited access and the inability to send samples to laboratories have prevented authorities from confirming if it is cholera.
The number of acutely food insecure people in Sudan is projected to reduce by about 5.3 million from October and remain at about 15 million up to February 2024, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). This coincides with the pre-harvest and harvest period between October 2023 and January 2024. According to the IPC, the food security situation is expected to improve slightly compared to July – September 2023, the peak lean season. The states of Central Darfur, Khartoum, South Darfur, and West Darfur – most affected by the conflict since mid-April – will account for 6.3 million (42 per cent) acutely food insecure people during the next five months (October 2023 – February 2024).
On 3 October, the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) completed the distribution of 40 metric tons (MT) of food aid to 1,000 families (about 5,000 people) in Atbara and Ad Damar localities, River Nile State, who were affected by flooding or conflict between SAF and RSF. The distribution of the two-week food parcels—containing sugar, tea, vegetable oil, rice, lentils, and flour—in coordination with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS). Non-food items were also distributed to the affected families.
The Refugee Consultation Forum (RCF) reports that between 15 April and 4 October, an estimated 191,300 refugees have moved from conflict hotspots to safer areas in Sudan, of whom 82 per cent are South Sudanese. About 145,200 refugees have arrived in White Nile State, mainly from Khartoum. The influx of refugees into the White Nile has led to overcrowding in camps, where resource gaps have reduced the partners' capacity to respond effectively. Since mid-April until the end of September, RCF partners have delivered at least one form of assistance to 732,328 refugees across 12 states, including at least one full food ration for 521,098 people. Protection assistance continues to be prioritized, including protection outreach, establishing protection desks and hotlines, training service providers, case management for children and gender-based violence (GBV) survivors, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and family reunification and tracing. On September 11 RCF partners provided multi-cluster response to refugees from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and others in seven states.
Since July, about 72,000 people in 17 localities across seven states have been affected by heavy rains and flooding, according to the 2023 Sudan Floods Dashboard. The most affected state is Northern (34,000 people), followed by River Nile (19,000), North Darfur (13,000), Gedaref (2,000), White Nile (2,000), North Kordofan (1,000), and South Kordofan (1,000) states. Reports indicate that at least 5,717 homes have been destroyed and 6,611 damaged. At least 5,717 homes have been destroyed and 6,611 damaged. In 2022, 349,000 people were affected by heavy rains and flooding across 16 of Sudan’s 18 states. At least 24,860 homes were destroyed, and 48,250 homes were damaged.
HUMANITARIAN ACCESS
Intensified hostilities, fighting and other impediments and obstacles faced by aid organizations continue to make access to people in need extremely challenging and unpredictable. Since 15 April, 938 incidents impacting humanitarian operations have been reported of which 37 per cent represented active hostilities, followed by violence against humanitarian personnel, assets and facilities (26 per cent). The highest incidents were in Khartoum (30 per cent) and South Darfur (12 per cent).
For the fourth consecutive week, the movement of humanitarian supplies to Darfur, Kordofan and White Nile states was postponed due to insecurity. The SAF and RSF clashed in Wad Ashana, North Kordofan State, along the Kosti - El Obeid road, leading to the postponement of the planned movement of 71 trucks to Darfur, Kordofan, and White Nile states. The situation in Wad Ashana is tense, and parties to the conflict continue to deploy forces in Kosti, White Nile and Um Rawaba town in North Kordofan State. OCHA is monitoring the situation and is engaging the Darfur Joint Forces to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Darfur and Kordofan states. Additionally, humanitarian organizations are facing fuel shortages, limited commercial transport companies and inflated costs of transport, creating a challenge to reaching those in need particularly in hard-to-reach areas in Khartoum and other parts such as eastern Sudan.
Bureaucratic and administrative obstacles are another challenge. A total of 221 visas are pending, of which 10 were submitted last week. Some 91 visas have been received since 20 August. On average, only 22 per cent of visa requests submitted by international NGOs have been processed as of 4 October, with some visa requests pending for more than four months. Only 23 per cent of requests have been processed for the UN since 20 August.
From 27 September to 4 October, 7,952 MT of food and medical supplies were delivered to eastern parts of Sudan and Khartoum State. On 4 October, one truck with 30 MT of medical supplies reached Jebel Awlia locality in Khartoum State through the cross-line modality. The World Food Programme (WFP) delivered food supplies for 60,000 people in Ag Geneina locality in West Darfur on 27 September, consisting of sorghum, pulses and oil – facilitated through the Humanitarian Information Sharing Mechanism (HISM).
Since 22 May, 156,263 MT (3,388 trucks) of relief items have been delivered. Among these, 65,100 MT (1,536 trucks) were for distribution, 90,493 MT (1,822 trucks) were for prepositioning, and 670 MT (30 trucks) were intended for both distribution and prepositioning.
On 4 October, an inter-agency convoy of four trucks crossed from Adre, Chad, into Sudan with 90 MT of non-food items. Preparations are ongoing for inter-agency cross-border missions between 8 to 24 October to West Darfur and Central Darfur following UNDSS security clearance. The missions will consist of OCHA, UNICEF, WFP, IOM, UNHCR and WHO and will meet authorities, conduct needs assessments, ensure partner quality control and monitor distributions.
STATE UPDATES
The State Ministry of Education in Aj Jazirah State reports that out of the 2,097 education facilities in the state, 245 primary schools, five secondary schools and 25 education facilities are currently inhabited by displaced people. This will be a challenge when the Federal Ministry of Education announces the start of the academic year. The longer students remain out of school, the more they will be exposed to various risks, including child labour and abuse. The ministry has approached humanitarian partners to work on a joint emergency plan to address this issue before schools open. IOM DTM reports that 366,700 people have taken refuge in 1,045 locations in Aj Jazirah State following fighting between SAF and RSF.
Community leaders report a dire humanitarian situation in Rongatass Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, Azum locality, Central Darfur State, that requires urgent intervention. According to the community leaders, Rongatass IDP camp—which hosts 23,000 IDPs and returnees—has received an additional 32,000 people from Mornie town who arrived after Mornie was attacked in July. The host community has been sharing food, water, and health supplies with the new arrivals. However, community leaders warn that the camp has run out of food and medical supplies and if no assistance is provided in the coming month, they will be left with no option but to move to Chad or other safer states. There is no active fighting, but the camp is dominated by militia who collect high protection fees from residents.
Also in Central Darfur, IDP community leaders report that 462 IDP shelters—affecting about 2,300 people)—were burned down, six IDPs were killed, and 11 others were injured during clashes between the SAF) and RS) in the vicinity of the camp on 26 September. In addition, pumps that supply water to the camp were damaged. According to the IDP community leaders, the affected people need shelter, food, protection, and health assistance. Fighters are occupying a school near the IDP camp from which they are shelling their opponents, putting the Hasahisa IDP camp at risk of being caught in the crossfire. Hasahisa IDP Camp hosts about 50,000 people who have resided there since 2005. Since the start of the conflict between SAF and RSF in mid-April, about 60,000 people have fled Zalingei town and Hasahisa IDP camp to safer areas in Jabal Marrah and Wadi Salih localities. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Clementine Nkweta-Salami issued a statement on 5 October condemning the killing of displaced civilians often caught in the crossfire during fighting in or near residential areas. Central Darfur is hosting about 290,200 people who have fled their homes due to fighting between SAF and RSF, according to IOM DTM.
IOM DTM reports that nine civilians were killed and between 1,750 and 2,000 people displaced in Wad Ashana village in Um Rawaba locality, North Kordofan State by fighting on 1 October between the SAF and RSF. IOM field teams reported that most of the displaced returned to their homes the next day, however, about 300 people moved to Kosti and Tendalti localities in White Nile State. The situation remains tense and unpredictable. About 98,200 displaced people have arrived in North Kordofan State since mid-April.
In South Darfur, at least three people were reportedly killed, an unconfirmed number injured and up to 1,500 displaced following clashes last week between the Habbaniya and Salamat tribes in Nadhif village of Buram locality that was triggered by a land dispute, reports IOM DTM. The displaced people have taken refuge within Buram and Asalaya localities in neighbouring East Darfur State. IOM DTM estimates that over 506,200 people have taken refuge in South Darfur since mid-April.
FUNDING OVERVIEW
The revised 2023 Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requires US$2.6 billion to provide life-saving multi-sectoral and protection assistance to 18.1 million people in desperate need through the end of this year. According to the Financial Tracking Service, the appeal is only 32.8 per cent funded, with $842.5 million received as of 7 October, according to the Financial Tracking Service.
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