Sudan: 25 million people in dire humanitarian need, say UN experts

About 25 million people including 14 million children are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan, since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, UN experts* said today. They issued the following joint statement:

“Sudan is facing one of the fastest unfolding crises globally with about 25 million people – including over 14 million children, of whom 3 million under five, suffer from acute malnutrition – in dire need of humanitarian assistance and support since fighting started between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, killing at least 13,000 persons and injuring 33,000.

The deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sudan has caused an unprecedented mass displacement, with an estimated 9.05 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), accounting for about 13 per cent of all IDPs globally. With nearly 4million children displaced, Sudan is facing the largest child displacement crisis in the world. More than 170 schools across the country turned into emergency shelters for internally displaced persons. Twenty million Sudanese children are reportedly not attending school, and exposed to the risk of sale, sexual abuse, exploitation, family separation, abduction, trafficking and recruitment and use by armed groups.

The majority of IDPs – 67 percent – reside in host communities and in so-called “gathering sites”, including schools, informal settlements or open areas and abandoned buildings, and live in dire conditions with limited support from international aid organizations. They endure severe shortages of food, and they lack access to safe drinking water, healthcare and essential medical supplies and sanitation. Overcrowding has resulted in the rapid spread of diseases. Close to 10,000 suspected cholera cases, including 275 associated deaths, have been reported across Sudan including in places where IDPs are taking refuge.

About 17.7 million people across Sudan representing 37 per cent of the population face acute hunger. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated existing tensions among communities centered on reported allegiances to conflicting parties, access to land and local authority structures, which has further complicated the already complex displacement context in Sudan. The scarcity of resources and limited international humanitarian aid has significantly increased the risk of violence between host communities and IDPs, with older persons, persons with disabilities, women and girls falling victims of targeted attacks by the members of the host community. We have received alarming reports of restriction of movements of civilians due to the heavy presence of RSF and its affiliated armed militias, threats of or reports of arbitrary detention, abduction, torture, acts tantamount to enforced disappearance, and forced recruitment of youth and trafficking of children for purposes of recruitment, abuses against IDPs and refugees in Sudan, including conflict-related sexual violence and rape against children and women, trafficking for purposes of sexual slavery, targeted killings, including of human rights defenders, journalists, doctors and lawyers, the shrinking of civic space and freedom of expression, and restrictions or denial of free passage for affected people in conflict zones. We are alarmed by the targeting of individuals and communities along ethnic lines and political affiliations.

Access to healthcare remains limited, with 70-80 per cent of hospitals across the country reportedly non-operational either due to the deteriorating security situation, or the lack of medical centres in areas of displacement. Victims of gender-based violence cannot access assistance and care they need, due to a combination of insecurity, lack of sufficient humanitarian assistance and lack of access to those affected by the conflict by humanitarian actors.

Businesses continuing to operate in Sudan must respect human rights by engaging in heightened human rights due diligence and supporting humanitarian efforts.

We are gravely concerned at continued impunity for crimes committed by warring parties and their disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians during times of armed conflict. We urge parties to the conflict to immediately halt hostilities and protect civilians, especially women and children, civilian objects and cultural property, medical personnel, humanitarian workers and civil society and abide by their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. All parties must allow and facilitate the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage and timely delivery of humanitarian relief for all persons in need, including those trapped in conflict hotspots and populated urban centres. Moreover, perpetrators of human rights violations should be prosecuted and receive penalties proportionate to the gravity of the acts committed, and victims should receive full reparation. IDPs have a right to return to their homes on a voluntary basis, should such return not be possible to in-situ integration or resettlement.

Inclusive political negotiations, accompanied by a humanitarian ceasefire, must resume urgently to transition Sudan towards a civilian Government and provide a pathway to inclusive and sustainable development. Publicly made commitments by both parties to abide by human rights standards and investigate all violations of international humanitarian and human rights law must be implemented and accountability ensured.

We urge all parties to the conflict to facilitate the work of human rights defenders and cooperate with the International Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan, established by the Human Rights Council in 2023, and the International Criminal Court on the investigation of allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

We call for increased funding for civil society to assist victims and for humanitarian response to provide life-saving assistance to 25 million people across Sudan in 2024. As of 21 January 2024, the appeal was only 3.1 per cent funded.”