The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Sudan emergency: One million now displaced in ongoing conflict
As heavy fighting continues, UN humanitarians warned on Friday that more than one million people have now been forced to flee for their lives.
A wave of deadly attacks reportedly targeted West Darfur’s capital, El-Geneina, in recent days, while the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said that more than 700 people had been killed and nearly 5,300 injured nationwide, after five weeks of clashes.
“Over one million people have now been recorded as displaced within Sudan or to neighboring countries,” said UNHCR spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh, as he issued an urgent appeal to respect the safety of civilians and to allow humanitarian aid to move freely, in line with an agreement reached by the warring parties in Jeddah on 11 May.
Under that accord between the national army and rival RSF militia, both sides agreed to allow trapped civilians to leave combat zones and allow humanitarian aid to enter.
Civilians will continue to suffer unless this deal is implemented, the UNHCR spokesperson insisted, echoing UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths’s condemnation of “flagrant violations” of the humanitarian agreement: “Unfortunately, what we've seen in the last couple of days is continued horrendous fighting on the ground, shelling, bombing and it's extremely important that what was committed to in Jeddah is enacted on the ground so that much needed aid can come in”.
Confirming that health facilities and health professionals have continued to be targeted since fighting broke out on 15 April, WHO spokesperson Carla Drysdale told journalists in Geneva that there have been 34 verified attacks, eight deaths and 18 injuries.
Sudan’s neighboring countries continue to be affected by the conflict, especially South Sudan, Chad, and particularly Egypt, which currently hosts the largest number of Sudanese, with 5,000 arriving every day. “That makes a total of almost 110,000 Sudanese who have entered the country, according to the Government,” said Mr. Saltmarsh.
In South Sudan, the numbers of refugees remain high, with around 1,500 arriving per day. Those fleeing the violence use via the Renk crossing in Upper Nile State, although "the transit facility near the border is becoming perilously crowded and resources are extremely stretched”, the UNHCR official noted.
In Chad, essential relief items such as safe drinking water and blankets have been delivered to almost 10,000 families, but UN humanitarians have warned that new arrivals are stuck in remote transit sites near the border with very limited supplies.
-ends-
STORY: Sudan Update - UNHCR - WHO
TRT: 3 min 6s
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
PUBLISHED: 19 MAY 2023
DATELINE: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Wide shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
- Wide shot, press room with spokespersons and journalists.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR Spokesperson: “Over a month since the fighting have started, we're making an urgent appeal for the safety of civilians and to allow humanitarian aid to move into Sudan as we continue to scale up our response for the over one million people who have now been recorded as displaced within Sudan or to neighboring countries.”
- Medium shot of speaker.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR Spokesperson: “Around 88,000 refugees hosted by Sudan have fled Khartoum for safety in White Nile, Gedaref, Kassala Madani and Port Sudan. In those locations, UNHCR is delivering critical assistance, including, of course, shelters, household items, clean water and sanitation, health care and education support for refugees and other people who are displaced in White Nile.”
- Wide shot of speakers in the room.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Carla Drysdale WHO Spokesperson: “Overall 5,287 injuries, 705 deaths, in Khartoum state 3,254 injuries and 203 deaths.”
- Close-up shots of people in the room.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Carla Drysdale WHO Spokesperson: “Since 15 of April, WHO has verified 34 attacks on health leading to eight deaths and 18 injuries. 21 of these incidents impacted health facilities while 10 impacted health personnel.”
- Close-up shot of journalists in the room.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR Spokesperson: “Over 843,000 people have been internally displaced within the country, according to the IOM, with neighboring governments and UNHCR having recorded almost a quarter of a million crossing borders to date.”
- Close-up shot of a journalist typing.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR Spokesperson: “The numbers of those fleeing to Egypt, which is the largest host, are rapidly increasing and with partners we estimate that the numbers currently are around 5,000 everyday arrivals, that makes a total of almost 110,000 Sudanese who have entered the country, according to the government.”
- Close-up shot hands typing.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR Spokesperson: “In South Sudan arrival rates remain high, at around 1,500 a day and of the 63,000 who have arrived, many were South Sudanese refugees in Sudan. Most arrive via the Renk crossing in Upper Nile State. The transit facility near the border is becoming perilously crowded and resources are extremely stretched”.
- Close-up shot of journalists in the room.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Matthew Saltmarsh, UNHCR Spokesperson: “In Chad, we have delivered relief items to almost 10,000 families and we have stepped up our monitoring to address the most pressing protection concerns. Most new arrivals are still in remote transit sites near the border with very limited resources.”
- Wide shots of speakers on the podium.
- Medium shot of speaker.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Repeated attacks on humanitarian warehouses put vital medical aid at risk in Ukraine - WHO
A new airstrike overnight damaged one of the main warehouses used by the UN health agency to store humanitarian medical supplies in the Kyiv region, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday. This is the third attack to affect a WHO-used storage in the last three months.
2
2
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO
Powerful El Niño heightens extreme-weather risks through 2027, as countries brace for impact - WMO
Fuelled by extraordinarily warm waters across the tropical Pacific Ocean, the El Niño climate pattern is expected to intensify in the coming months. Forecasters are almost certain that it will persist through February next year, with unusually warm conditions expected across the globe.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UN WOMEN , WHO
Nepal flood deaths near 1,000 as those spared struggle to survive – UN humanitarians
With the death toll in Nepal’s catastrophic flash floods inching towards 1,000, rescue workers are facing harsh conditions while survivors lack access to food, safe water and health care, humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNDRR , IFRC , WHO
Nepal: Flooding disaster “not over” as humanitarians work around the clock
While search and rescue efforts continued Friday following flash floods and mudslides in northern Nepal, UN humanitarians are taking stock of the devastation amid concerns over more flooding to come.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNIFIL
Damaged roads, disrupted services and renewed military activity are putting civilians at risk in south Lebanon, UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) warns.
The UN peacekeeping mission is urging restraint and renewed political engagement to prevent further escalation.
1
1
1
Edited News | ICRC , UNODA
Amid unconfirmed reports that fully autonomous and AI-guided drones are now being used on the battlefield, UN chief António Guterres and the President of the Red Cross on Tuesday renewed their urgent call for stricter controls, before it is too late.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF
Somalia: child hunger surges as humanitarian aid dries up – UNICEF
The global funding crisis for vital lifesaving work is taking a growing toll on the most vulnerable children in Somalia, where hundreds of health and nutrition facilities have been forced to close, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
As the deadliest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s history continued spreading on Friday, UN responders renewed their urgent appeal for immediate international support, with existing funding for lifesaving work critically low.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
DRC: In the fight against Ebola, bikers transporting dead bodies hold key to community engagement - WHO
From the frontlines of the deadliest-ever Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) shared details on Tuesday of a massive push for community engagement, a day after yet another ambulance attack.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNFPA
Sudan: The harrowing reality of giving birth in a war zone
Sudanese women about to give birth are losing their babies and sometimes their own lives because of a lack of specialist healthcare support, amid the ongoing war, UN humanitarians said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WHO
Colombia earthquake: International teams ready to support, says UN
As earthquake rescue efforts across western Colombia continued on Tuesday, UN agencies said that they stood ready to help “with everything we've got” if and when the request came from the authorities.
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | HRC
Myanmar's military has carried out a sustained campaign of deliberate attacks on civilians – including airstrikes on homes, schools and camps for displaced people, alongside arbitrary detention, torture and sexual violence – Human Rights Council-appointed investigators said on Tuesday.