SITUATION OVERVIEW

Famine: Urgent resources and unrestricted access needed to scale up response

After more than 16 months of conflict in Sudan, famine conditions are now prevalent in Zamzam internally displaced persons (IDP) camp, North Darfur State, marking the first such report globally since 2017. On 1 August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee (FRC) concluded that the ongoing conflict has pushed communities in North Darfur State, notably in Zamzam camp near the state capital Al Fasher, into famine (IPC 5) conditions as of June and July 2024 and are likely to persist during August-October 2024.

The FRC further added that thousands more people are likely experiencing similar conditions in 13 other areas at risk of famine that were highlighted in the IPC analysis released in June 2024. It urged for assessments in other IDP camps in Al Fasher, particularly, Abu Shouk and Al Salam camps where similar conditions are likely affecting the IDP communities.

Sudan faces the worst levels of acute food insecurity in its history, with more than half of its population – 25.6 million people – in acute hunger. That includes more than 8.5 million people facing emergency levels of hunger (IPC 4), as well as more than 755,000 people who are in catastrophic conditions (IPC 5) in Greater Darfur, South and North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Aj Jazirah, and Khartoum.

In a statement, Ms. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, noted that humanitarians are on the ground ready to scale up and pushing ahead on multiple fronts. She added that “we need the guns to be silenced to enable humanitarians to reach the people in need. We need an urgent injection of funding for the aid operation as well as safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, including across borders and battle lines.”

Flooding: Above-normal rains cause flooding and displacement

Since the onset of the rainy season in June, heavy rains and flooding have continued to cause havoc displacing hundreds of thousands of people, damaging infrastructure, affecting road access, and heightening the risk of diseases. Sudan is one of the countries in the Greater Horn of Africa projected to receive above-average rains for the June to September 2024 Seasonal Forecast, according to the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC).

Since June, more than 442,600 people have been affected across 13 out of 18 states, with at least 124,600 people displaced by the flooding, according to the Sudan Floods Dashboard. The heavy rains and flooding have also displaced 4,300 IDPs in Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps near Al Fasher, North Darfur State, with about 900 tents destroyed, 2,300 houses damaged, and latrines washed away by the floods. Flooding, coupled with escalating fighting, is worsening an already dire situation for thousands of IDPs in Zamzam camp where the IPC FRC confirmed the presence of famine-like conditions in early August.

The heavy downpours and subsequent flooding are exacerbating the plight of thousands of other vulnerable and acutely food insecure people, compounding their suffering, lack of safety and access to lifesaving assistance and services. In Northern and River Nile states, flooding has resulted in widespread scorpion and snake infestations, posing risks to the communities due to the shortage of treatment. Flooding and stagnant water are heightening the risk of disease outbreaks across affected states.

While the rains are good for crop farming and pasture generation, flooding is aggravating road conditions. This is delaying the delivery of humanitarian assistance, including seeds, to parts of Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and other conflict-affected areas with acute needs, with access severely constrained due to fighting, flooding, and other challenges.

Diseases: Cholera outbreak confirmed; partners ramp up response

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that an outbreak of cholera was officially declared on 12 August 2024 by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) after a new wave of cholera cases had been reported from 22 July 2024. The previous outbreak had technically ended in June 2024 following two consecutive incubation periods without any case reported but had not been officially declared over. Between 22 July and 1 September, 2,895 cases of cholera have been reported, with 112 associated deaths – case fatality rate (CFR) of 3.9 per cent – from five states, including Kassala (1,703 cases), Gedaref (699), River Nile (408), Aj Jazirah (65), and Khartoum (20).

The FMoH, with support from WHO and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) concluded a four-day oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaign in Wad Alhilu of Kassala State on 22 August 2024 to protect communities in hotspot areas and curb the spread of the outbreak. A total of 51,000 doses of oral cholera vaccines (OCV) inside Sudan were utilized, with 100 per cent vaccination coverage, protecting the targeted population (persons older than one year) in this locality. In addition, 404,081 oral cholera vaccines have been approved to cover vulnerable people in Kassala State (120,533 doses for Wad Alhilu locality and 283,548 doses for Kassala locality). The vaccines are expected to arrive in Sudan during the first week of September 2024.

WHO supported the FMoH in submitting a request to the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision for allocation of OCV and is providing technical, operational, and financial support to the campaign, as well as coordination with the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, including financial support to cover operational costs, and UNICEF supported with logistics to transport vaccines. Meanwhile, WHO cholera supplies had been pre-positioned in high-risk states in anticipation of a cholera outbreak during the rainy season, and have been distributed to all outbreak-affected states. WHO completed the assessment of case management capacities in cholera hotspots and is working to establish 12 cholera treatment units (CTU) – two units per each affected state and two for Red Sea State – and 48 Oral Rehydration Points (ORP) in the affected states.

Conflict displacement: 77,100 people displaced within and outside Sudan during 1st half of August 2024

During the first half of August 2024, about 73,550 people were displaced within Sudan and another 3,600 people crossed into neighbouring countries, according to the latest Sudan Mobility Update from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). This brings the total number of people who fled their homes since mid-April 2023 to 10.3 million or every fifth person in the country, making this the largest displacement crisis in the world. This includes about 8 million people displaced within Sudan and another 2.3 million who crossed into neighbouring countries.

Unlike in previous years following the start of the Darfur crisis in 2003, the highest number of IDPs from any given state originates from the capital, Khartoum (3.7 million people or 34 per cent of IDPs since mid-April). This is followed by IDPs from South Darfur (19 per cent), North Darfur (14 per cent) and others. The crisis post-April 2023 can also be characterized as the “aid worker displacement crisis”, with dozens of Sudanese aid workers displaced themselves, either within Sudan or having fled to Chad, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya, Gulf countries, Malaysia, and other countries.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Famine prevention and response underway

Despite access restrictions and a severe lack of funding, humanitarian partners have continued to implement the Famine Prevention Plan (FPP) launched in April. The plan, which aims to reach 7.6 million people facing acute needs in priority areas, was a response to the early warning issued in March of possible large-scale famine due to the ongoing conflict. Since May, at least 5.6 million people (74 per cent of the target) in priority areas have been reached with some form of humanitarian assistance. This includes 5.1 million people who were assisted with emergency food and livelihood support and close to 870,000 people who were provided with access to safe water and sanitation. In addition, about 522,000 people were reached with healthcare services, and another 240,000 people received nutrition supplies. The plan prioritizes a multi-cluster integrated approach which includes food security and livelihoods, nutrition, health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) response alongside other clusters. Overall, more than 8 million of the 14.7 million people targeted for assistance this year have received some form of humanitarian assistance between January and July 2024.

Humanitarians enhance famine response coordination

A part of the efforts to boost famine prevention and response coordination efforts, the UN and partners are activating humanitarian hubs across the country. This follows the establishment of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)-hosted Sudan Operations Coordination Center (SOCC) in Port Sudan in July this year to strengthen famine prevention and humanitarian response coordination. There are six hubs envisaged in the plan, including one national hub in Port Sudan and five sub-national hubs in Kassala, Kosti, Kadugli, Zalingei and Atbara. These sub-national hubs will be coordinating humanitarian response in Kassala and Gedaref; White Nile, North Kordofan and Aj Jazirah; South Kordofan and West Kordofan; Darfur; Northern State and parts of Khartoum respectively. While the national hub in Port Sudan is up and running, the scale-up of the Kassala hub is underway. Insecurity due to the conflict is impacting the roll-out of the hub in Kosti, while an assessment was finalized for the Kadugli hub and OCHA is preparing to deploy staff to coordinate response. The hub in Zalingei is almost ready, while for Atbara, IOM is setting up the hub to be ready shortly.

HUMANITARIAN ACCESS

UN Deputy Secretary General visits Sudan; 59 aid trucks cross Adre border point since re-opening

The UN Deputy Secretary General (DSG), Ms. Amina Mohammed, arrived in Port Sudan on a one-day mission on 29 August. She met with the Transitional Sovereignty Council, senior officials, and the UN country team to discuss ways of improving the aid operation, to address the Adre border crossing point procedures and to draw the attention to the crisis in Sudan. She also emphasized the importance of sustaining the movement of supplies via the Adre border crossing alongside addressing the Humanitarian Aid Commission’s concerns about procedures. She was accompanied by the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, as well as the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, and an inter-agency delegation. She proceeded to Chad on 30 August where she visited the Adre border crossing point and met with Sudanese refugees.

Ms. Mohammed’s visit to Port Sudan came two weeks after the Sudanese authorities announced the re-opening of the Adre border crossing point from Chad to Sudan’s Darfur for aid supplies for three months. The UN and the larger humanitarian community in Sudan welcomed the decision on 16 August, characterising Adre corridor as a critical lifeline for the people of Sudan. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan said in a statement that this humanitarian route will help humanitarian partners to deliver emergency food and nutrition supplies, medicine, shelter, and other life-saving assistance to millions of people in desperate need.

After the announcement of the re-opening of the Adre border crossing, humanitarians immediately mobilized. The first convoy of trucks crossed the Adre border on 20 and 21 August. By 31 August, 59 aid trucks had crossed from Chad to Sudan’s Darfur transporting medical, food, nutrition, emergency shelter and essential household items for nearly 195,000 people in acute need in different parts of the country. For more information on the Adre border crossing see the Flash Update #2.

The Adre border crossing point was closed for aid movement in February 2024 by the authorities. Aid supplies could only trickle into Darfur through the Tine border crossing and humanitarians continuously advocated with authorities to re-open the Adre border crossing because it is the most effective and shortest route to deliver humanitarian assistance to Sudan’s Darfur and other adjacent areas.

Aid supplies for half a million people stuck due to rains and poor road conditions

On 19 August, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that more than 50 trucks carrying an estimated 4,800 metric tonnes (MT) of food and nutrition supplies had been stuck in various locations across Sudan and unable to move towards their final destinations due to flooding and poor road conditions. The supplies are enough to cover the needs of about 500,000 people for three months. Humanitarian partners are working on identifying alternative routes to expedite the delivery of these lifesaving supplies. Shifting lines of conflict and the peak of the rains and flooding season are aggravating an already challenging humanitarian access situation, where aid agencies are having to constantly negotiate and secure new routes for aid convoys.

World Humanitarian Day: Humanitarians call for protection of civilians and aid workers

On 19 August – World Humanitarian Day – the UN and humanitarian partners in Sudan urged all parties to the conflict, the international community, donors, and others to ensure the protection and safety of civilians and humanitarian workers and to hold perpetrators of crimes against them accountable.

After 500 days of conflict, Sudan has become the world’s largest hunger, protection, and displacement crisis but also among the most dangerous for aid workers. Since mid-April 2023 when the conflict broke out, at least 22 aid workers – all of them Sudanese nationals – have been killed while on duty and at least 34 aid workers were wounded or injured. In addition, an estimated 19,000 people have been killed and more than 33,000 have been injured, according to the Protection Cluster report. These numbers are conservative estimations as partners are unable to collect real-time data due to access restrictions and insecurity.

The 16-month long conflict has had a devastating impact on civilian infrastructure and over 75 per cent of health facilities are non-functional in conflict-affected states. Since April 2023, 105 attacks on health care – including on health facilities, ambulances and transport, assets, patients, and health workers – have been verified resulting in 183 deaths and 125 injuries. Destruction of power, water and sanitation infrastructures in conflict areas has contributed to the increased risk of diseases and famine conditions.

In a statement to mark the day, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan called on “all parties to ensure the protection of all aid workers, including those working for local and national partners, their premises and assets, and to facilitate their work, including opening up and guaranteeing safe and unhindered humanitarian access”. She added that attacks against civilians, aid workers and civilian infrastructure are a violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

HUMANITARIAN FUNDING

Resources are depleting as the risk of famine heightens

While the re-opening of the Adre border crossing is a positive development, humanitarian partners are concerned that funding resources to procure more supplies are depleting. With the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which is seeking US$2.7 billion, only 41 per cent funded by the end of August, humanitarian partners are calling on donors to immediately provide funds to sustain the supply chain and the famine prevention and response operation across the country.

While $1.1 billion (41 per cent of the appeal) has been provided so far, a detailed funding picture reveals a concerning variation among cluster funding levels. The Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster is the highest funded, having received two thirds of its 2024 requirement. This is almost half of the funding provided for the response plan thus far, with other life-saving clusters having received little funding.

During an interview with UN News, Mr Justin Brady, the OCHA Sudan Head of Office warned that “an effective response to famine cannot be made on a shoestring budget.” He added that “the battle to prevent lives being lost in Sudan due to famine must include a comprehensive package of assistance. People think famine, and they think food, when in fact, what we need to effectively respond, be it famine or displacement, is a package of assistance.”

A massive multi-cluster response is critical for an effective famine response. This includes coordinated provision of food, agricultural inputs, WASH, healthcare services and nutrition treatment, among others. “This disparity in funding levels affects the ability of partners to meet all the needs of the people in a coherent manner, with some IDPs and host communities receiving food, but lacking access to safe water to cook that food,” explained Justin Brady.

SHF allocates $130 million for frontline response

By 31 August 2024, the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) received $93 million in contributions, the highest amount received by an OCHA-managed country-based pooled fund this year. Between January-August 2024, SHF has allocated $130 million for frontline response. Over the same period, the UN Central Emergency Fund (CERF) allocated $40 million, making Sudan the largest recipient of CERF funding in 2024. About $83 million was allocated for Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan states, including $50 million for 16 of the 18 localities classified by the FRC in June 2024 as being at risk of famine. It should be noted that SHF had allocated over $30 million to these areas in 16 localities before they were considered at risk of famine. This was in thanks to the integration of the state-level cluster coordination system in the programming of SHF allocations, enabling SHF to allocate funding to the most vulnerable people and areas. The SHF allocated $15 million for its “48-hour” Rapid Response Mechanism and $6.5 million to support mutual-aid groups and other community-based initiatives. Furthermore, SHF continues to allocate funds rapidly to emerging needs, such as a $4 million allocation to ensure the continuation of the operation of a health center in Khartoum.

For the PDF version: Sudan Humanitarian Update, 1 September 2024