19 April
Edem Wosornu, Director, Operations and Advocacy for OCHA speaking on behalf of Martin Griffiths, briefed the Security Council on the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, emphasizing the catastrophic consequences of the year-long conflict, and appealing to council to do more to “silence the guns” in Sudan.
Recent attacks near El Fasher pose immediate danger to civilians, necessitating urgent action to ensure their protection and facilitate humanitarian access. The recent Paris conference yielded crucial funding pledges and discussions on access, but swift disbursement of funds and intensified international engagement are imperative to address the escalating crisis effectively. (OCHA)
19 April
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary A. DiCarlo addressed the Security Council, emphasizing the urgent need to end the devastating conflict in Sudan. DiCarlo called for adherence to International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law, urged restraint from all parties, and emphasized the importance of external actors’ compliance with sanctions to achieve peace.
She underscored the UN’s commitment to mediation efforts and supporting Sudan’s democratic transition, applauding the recently held Paris Conference on Sudan while stressing the collective responsibility to aid Sudan’s path to peace and recovery. (UN DPPA)
18 April
The recent Regional Sudan Crisis Response Update highlights priorities for IOM, which continues to deliver vital humanitarian aid within Sudan and neighboring countries, while pushing for safe access to affected populations. Advocacy efforts extend to facilitating cross-border operations from Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt.
Additionally, IOM emphasizes the importance of transition and stabilization interventions, especially in neighboring nations where returning populations may seek to settle. Recent activities include the distribution of 3,000 hygiene kits to about 18,000 individuals in Gedaref state, alongside assisting 18 stranded migrants in traveling from Kassala to Gedaref, and onward to the Ethiopian border. (IOM)
18 April
UNESCO’s Regional Office for Egypt and Sudan, along with partners like NCAM, SFDAS, and the Polish Cultural Center, organized a workshop in Cairo titled “Update of Crisis Response, Risk Mitigation, and First Aid for Sudan’s Heritage” on April 16-17, 2024. The aim was to strategize protection measures for Sudan’s cultural heritage amid ongoing conflict.
Dr. Nuria Sanz, UNESCO’s Regional Cairo Office Director, stressed the workshop’s importance, signaling the start of practical actions to strengthen safeguards through analysis, assessment, and expert consultations, alongside collaboration with the National Council for Civil Defence. (UNESCO)
17 April
The recent Sudan Emergency Response Update highlights that in the past year of the Sudan crisis, UNHCR Egypt has registered over 476,000 newly arrived refugees and asylum-seekers, with about 228,000 fully registered, and provided information on protection services to approximately 100,000 individuals forced to flee Sudan. Around 508,827 people, including 500,000 Sudanese and 8,827 of other nationalities, have entered Egypt since the crisis began.
Despite reduced working hours during Ramadan, UNHCR Egypt registered 9,775 refugees and asylum-seekers in the last two weeks, with a lower no-show rate compared to previous years, demonstrating the crucial role of UNHCR registration amid increased demand due to the Sudan crisis. (UNHCR)
16 April
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has secured $1.4 million from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to address malnutrition in Sudan and South Sudan. This funding will benefit over 35,000 children and mothers affected by conflict, economic challenges, and climate issues, aiding nearly 29,000 individuals in Sudan and around 6,000 in South Sudan.
Michael Dunford, WFP Regional Director for East Africa, emphasized the critical timing of this support amid the escalating hunger crisis in Sudan, highlighting the urgent need to prevent starvation and address the long-term effects of malnutrition. (WFP)
16 April
The recent Regional Displacement Update UNHCR emphasizes that since April 2023, Sudan’s conflict has displaced 8.7 million people, with 6.6 million internally displaced and 1.8 million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.
Urgent needs include water, food, shelter, healthcare, and basic relief items, with priority actions focusing on registering new arrivals, relocating them from border areas, identifying vulnerable families, and addressing gender-based violence while providing care for unaccompanied refugee children. (UNHCR)
16 April
The United Nations in Egypt, along with its partners, is calling for a total of USD175.1 million to address the urgent needs of Sudanese refugees who have arrived in Egypt since mid-April 2023. Who often face significant challenges and traumas during their journey.
The proposed budget will support 27 partners in assisting approximately half a million refugees, migrants, and host community members across various sectors including protection, education, food security, health, livelihoods, and housing. (UNHCR)
16 April
Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience, emphasized the severe impact of the conflict on cereal production in Sudan, leading to a significant decrease in output.
Estimates highlight that the production of sorghum, millet and wheat in 2023 was about 4.1 million tonnes, a 46 per cent decrease compared to the previous year and about 40 per cent below the average of the previous five years. Paulsen highlighted the crucial role of FAO interventions in addressing the food security crisis in Sudan, underscoring the importance of immediate action. (FAO)
15 April
The Secretary-General expressed deep concern over escalating hostilities in El Fasher, North Darfur, noting attacks on villages led to widespread displacement and threatened essential water sources. Highlighting the potential for full-blown conflict and dire humanitarian consequences, he urged all parties to ensure safe passage for aid operations to prevent further suffering and facilitate relief efforts in the region. (OSSG)
15 April
The healthcare system in Sudan is in dire straits, with millions lacking access to care, the majority of health facilities non-functional and shortages and hindering treatment for diseases like HIV and TB. UNDP is collaborating with the Global Fund, National Medical Supplies Fund and the World Food Programme, working to support healthcare workers, deliver essential medicines, and rehabilitate health infrastructure.
As part of the Sudan Emergency Community Stabilization Offer UNDP also addresses water shortages and food insecurity through initiatives like solar water pumps and agricultural support. Urgent funding is needed to prevent further deterioration and lay the groundwork for recovery amid the deepening humanitarian catastrophe. (UNDP)
15 April
Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, recounted the harrowing journey of Khadim and her family, displaced by the conflict in Sudan. She highlighted the dire humanitarian situation, with millions displaced and in need of assistance, yet funding remains critically low.
Pope emphasized the urgent need for international support to address the deepening crisis, including providing essential services to both those within Sudan and those displaced to neighbouring countries, while also urging for diplomatic efforts to seek peace and end the suffering. (IOM)
15 April
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed concern over the escalating violence in Sudan, highlighting indiscriminate attacks, ethnically motivated violence, and conflict-related sexual violence.
He emphasized the need for all parties to cooperate with human rights experts and the Fact-Finding Mission to address the worsening humanitarian crisis. Türk urged Sudanese authorities to grant them access to the country to investigate and address human rights violations. (OHCHR)
15 April
In his press encounter on Sudan, the Secretary-General highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and a concerted global effort to achieve peace. He called for increased funding for humanitarian response plans, full humanitarian access, and a ceasefire followed by comprehensive peace negotiations. The Secretary-General also underscored the importance of supporting Sudan’s democratic transition and empowering all Sudanese voices for a peaceful future. (UN News)
15 April
In his video message to the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Its Neighbours, the Secretary-General thanked the organizers and highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict in Sudan over the past year. He emphasized the urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance and called on donors to step up their contributions. The Secretary-General also urged all parties to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access, and work towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. (UN News)
15 April
Every day, an alarming 20,000 individuals, half of whom are children, are forced to flee their homes in Sudan, as revealed by the latest report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
IOM Director General Amy Pope, attending the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and its Neighbours in Paris, emphasizes the urgent need for international intervention to address Sudan’s escalating humanitarian crisis and calls for concerted efforts to deliver aid and advocate for peace. (IOM)
14 April
An entire generation of children in Sudan faces a catastrophe as the war enters its second year, with 8.9 million children facing acute food insecurity, including 4.9 million at emergency levels. Additionally, nearly 4 million children under five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition, exacerbating Sudan’s education crisis, where over 90% of school-age children lack access to formal education, posing a generational threat.
UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, Ted Chaiban, emphasizes the urgent need for humanitarian access to conflict-affected areas to avert a catastrophic loss of children’s lives, urging all parties to prioritize humanitarian aid delivery without politicizing assistance. (UNICEF)