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 | WFP
Gaza: One million receive food parcels as humanitarians race to ‘push back hunger’
Food is slowly returning to the shelves in Gaza amid “apocalyptic scenes” but supplies are still desperately inadequate, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday, as they issued fresh calls for wider access and continued financial support.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today told the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva of more details that are emerging on the atrocities committed in El Fasher, in Sudan during and after its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , WHO
Sudan: UN Raises Alarm Over Mass Atrocities in El Fasher as Survivors Report Executions, Killings and Rapes
More details continue to emerge about atrocities committed during and after the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on 23 October. Since the powerful paramilitary group made a major incursion into the city last week, the UN Human Rights Office has received “horrendous accounts of summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement,” said Seif Magango, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Ukraine: Russian attacks on energy terrorize population as winter starts; could trigger major ‘crisis within crisis’
The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine expressed concern on Friday about “continuous attacks” on energy production sites and distribution facilities.
1
1
1
Edited News | HRC
Navi Pillay Retires After Decades Defending Human Rights and Pursuing Justice
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment.
1
1
1
Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO
‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives
Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.
1
1
Edited News | WHO
‘We need all routes to open’: in Gaza WHO calls for ramp-up of medevacs, easier access for essentials
Two weeks since a ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza the World Health Organization (WHO) noted progress on the flow of aid while calling for more evacuations of critical patients and eased entry for essential medicines and supplies.
1
12
1
1
Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS
UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science
No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.