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.

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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

1. Wide shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
2. Wide shot, press room with spokespersons and journalists.
3. 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.”
4. Medium shot of speaker.
5. 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.”
6. Wide shot of speakers in the room.
7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – Carla Drysdale WHO Spokesperson: “Overall 5,287 injuries, 705 deaths, in Khartoum state 3,254 injuries and 203 deaths.”
8. Close-up shots of people in the room.
9. 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.”
10. Close-up shot of journalists in the room.
11. 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.”
12. Close-up shot of a journalist typing.
13. 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.”
14. Close-up shot hands typing.
15. 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”.
16. Close-up shot of journalists in the room.
17. 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.”
18. Wide shots of speakers on the podium.
19. Medium shot of speaker.