CAIRO – 28 November 2024: The United Nations and its agencies have sounded alarms about the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan, emphasizing the dire plight of civilians across the country. Among the major concerns is the escalating risk of gender-based violence (GBV), which has reportedly tripled in recent months.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, revealed that the number of people at risk of GBV has surged to 12 million, encompassing women, girls, men, and boys. This alarming statistic highlights the disproportionate impact of ongoing conflict and severe food insecurity on women and girls.
Nkweta-Salami pointed to a rise in cases of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, child marriage, and female genital mutilation (FGM), adding that the risks of sexual exploitation and abuse remain high. Between January and September 2024, GBV prevention programs reached only 147,000 individuals—less than 10% of the target population—due to security challenges, limited access, and insufficient funding. These programs have received only 24% of the required funding.
She urged prioritizing investment in GBV prevention, addressing harmful social norms, and ensuring survivors have access to comprehensive support. The UN's "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence" campaign in Sudan, under the theme "You Are Not Alone," underscores solidarity with survivors and advocates for no woman to face violence without support.
Reports indicate that families in conflict-affected areas have resorted to desperate measures, including marrying off young girls to fighters, as livelihoods in both rural and urban areas have been destroyed.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that the number of displaced persons in Sudan has exceeded 14.5 million, including 11.3 million internally displaced people (IDPs) and over 3.2 million refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.
Key figures from the IOM report include:
Internally Displaced: IDPs are distributed across 9,470 sites in 184 localities in Sudan’s 18 states.
Conflict-Induced Displacement: Since April 15, 2023, 8.6 million people have been displaced due to the conflict.
Secondary Displacement: Over 1 million people previously displaced before the current conflict have faced secondary displacement.
Pre-Conflict Figures: Before the current crisis, Sudan already hosted 3.8 million IDPs, primarily from the Darfur region.
Nearly 33% of IDPs are from Khartoum, with 18% from South Darfur and 14% from North Darfur. Approximately 53% of those displaced are children under the age of 18.
Among refugees, Egypt has received 1.2 million Sudanese, followed by Chad (716,000), with others fleeing to South Sudan, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Libya, and Uganda.
Amid the crisis, humanitarian aid efforts have also faced significant challenges. Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commission accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia of looting a World Food Program (WFP) convoy heading to Zamzam camp in North Darfur.
On November 14, the WFP announced the departure of a convoy carrying 7,000 metric tons of food supplies from Port Sudan to Zamzam camp, intended to support 27,400 people. However, the RSF reportedly intercepted the convoy near Armal, on the border between West and North Kordofan states, redirecting it to Nyala, South Darfur, a region under their control.
The Commission condemned the incident as a violation of humanitarian principles, accusing the RSF of attempting to starve civilians, exacerbate malnutrition, and spread fear. It called for adherence to international humanitarian law and respect for the dignity of Sudanese citizens.
The Commission further criticized the RSF for repeated violations of agreements, including the Jeddah Declaration signed in May 2023, and pledged to coordinate efforts with humanitarian partners to mitigate the suffering of affected populations.
Zamzam, one of the largest camps in North Darfur, has been under siege by RSF forces since April. The camp faces severe shortages of food and other essential supplies, worsening the plight of thousands of displaced individuals residing there.
The escalating violence, displacement, and impediments to aid delivery underscore the urgent need for robust international intervention to address the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.
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