The conflict between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since mid-April has already forced almost five million people to leave their homes and has caused the number of internally displaced persons to skyrocket to over seven million.
Specific, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 7.1 million people live as internally displaced persons within Sudan and, of these, 3.8 correspond to the exodus derived from the recent escalation of violence. The Darfur region and the states of Río Nile, Sennar and Nile Blanco accumulate most of these displaced persons.
Besides, The number of people who have crossed the border into other countries is now close to 1.1 million, mainly to Egypt, Libya, Chad, the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Ethiopia. Two out of three are Sudanese citizens, while the remaining third correspond to refugees returned to their respective countries or people from third countries.
The IOM warned of the “serious humanitarian crisis” derived from this conflict, which has caused shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel, as well as a drastic rise in the price of basic products and complications on transport routes.
The UN, meanwhile, estimates that 24.7 million people, half the population of Sudan, need humanitarian aid.
The director of the Department of Operations and Emergencies, Frederick Sodastressed that “the people of Sudan deserve peace”, fearing that “any new escalation of violence could devastate the country and the region”.
For this reason, he called on the international community to “urgently” support humanitarian work and guarantee the sending of aid “before it is too late.” The IOM doubled its request for funds for Sudan and neighboring countries, up to 418 million dollars (about 390 million euros)but for now it has only received 21% of these funds: that is, 87.7 million dollars.
Of this budget, $270.7 million will go to Sudan, $124.1 million to neighboring countries and $23.2 million in assistance to third-country nationals, according to the IOM report.
“The complex humanitarian situation and the mixed nature of the movement situation out of Sudan call for a contextually relevant and a needs-based response driven by strong coordination efforts within countries, regionally and internationally with relevant entities in countries of origin”he detailed.
The conflict in Sudan began after the FAR rebelled against the Army and, so far, the war has left between 1,000 and 5,000 dead, according to different estimates.
At the moment there are no signs of a permanent ceasefire, after numerous unsuccessful attempts to reach a lasting truce between the two sides with the mediation of different countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United States and South Sudan during the months of May and June.
With information from Europa Press and EFE
Source-www.infobae.com