The number of internally displaced people in Sudan due to ongoing conflict is expected to surpass 10 million, marking the world’s largest displacement crisis, according to the United Nations migration agency (IOM) on Friday.
Fighting that erupted in the capital Khartoum in April 2023 has rapidly spread across the country, reigniting ethnic violence in the western Darfur region and forcing millions to flee their homes.
“How much suffering and loss of life must the people of Sudan endure before the world takes notice? Isn’t 10 million internally displaced enough to compel urgent global action?” questioned Mohamed Refaat, Sudan Chief of Mission for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). “Every one of those 10 million displaced lives represents a profound human tragedy that demands urgent attention.”
As of this week, the IOM recorded 9.9 million people internally displaced across Sudan. Prior to the current conflict, there were already 2.8 million internally displaced individuals, according to the agency. In total, around 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, with over 2 million crossing into neighboring countries such as Egypt and Chad.
Refaat highlighted that more than half of the internally displaced people in Sudan are women, with a quarter being children under the age of five. Aid agencies are struggling to meet the rising needs due to funding shortfalls, impacting the provision of adequate shelter, food, and medical assistance.
“Serious concerns are mounting about the long-term impact of displacement on Sudan’s social and economic fabric,” Refaat added.
UN agencies have also warned that Sudan is at “imminent risk of famine,” with approximately 18 million people acutely hungry, including 3.6 million children who are acutely malnourished. The dire situation calls for immediate and substantial international support to avert further humanitarian disaster.
