DARFUR, Sudan: Amidst the persistent and fierce fighting in Darfur, which has once again forced thousands of Sudanese to flee their homes, the United Nations is sounding an alarm over the ever-increasing humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
The situation has left millions already displaced and in desperate need of assistance, according to a UN official speaking to AFP.
Mamadou Dian Balde, the top regional official for the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR), expressed deep concern about the ongoing crisis. He highlighted the shocking statistic that, over the course of six months, approximately six million people have been forced to leave their homes—an average of one million individuals per month. This humanitarian crisis is causing “horrible suffering” for those affected.
The conflict in Darfur has been primarily between troops loyal to Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo. A UN report has indicated that more than 9,000 people have lost their lives in the conflict since April.
Out of the nearly six million individuals who have been displaced, 1.2 million have fled the country. These displaced individuals, according to the UN official, are now living as “very proud people who find themselves begging,” and their lives have been “totally disrupted.”
Mamadou Dian Balde also warned that, even as the world’s attention has been focused on conflicts in other regions, such as the war in Gaza, the number of people fleeing their homes in Sudan has been on the rise once again. RSF forces have been advancing toward Nyala, the second-largest city in Darfur, further intensifying the displacement crisis.
Another UN official in the region, Dominique Hyde, shared her observations on social media, describing “dramatic scenes at the border with Sudan,” where 10,000 people seeking safety arrived in just the last three days.
UN says 'horrible suffering' in Sudan only growing as more people are displaced
➡️ https://t.co/x5VAF8j0Sq pic.twitter.com/xBWBrSFyET— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) November 3, 2023
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed deep concern over information regarding an “imminent large-scale attack” by Sudan’s paramilitary forces in El-Facher, the capital of North Darfur.
The situation is causing an increasing number of people from Darfur to be pushed south, initially to Chad in recent weeks and now to South Sudan.
Mamadou Dian Balde emphasized the importance of achieving a cessation of hostilities, especially as negotiations in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah continue in an effort to “succeed in stopping the fighting.” Previous attempts at mediation have resulted in brief truces that were systematically violated.
In the meantime, Balde stressed the urgent need to alleviate the suffering of the displaced individuals by providing resources to them, as their numbers continue to grow.
The UN had previously called for approximately $1 billion in funding as part of its humanitarian response plan in August, anticipating 1.8 million refugees by the end of 2023. However, the plan has only received 38 percent of the required funding, even as the needs continue to escalate. Most refugees are seeking shelter in the poorest parts of South Sudan and southern Chad, where local communities are struggling to absorb them. As a result, the UN may have to build new camps to accommodate the growing displaced population.
Balde also stressed the importance of supporting the local communities in these areas, emphasizing the need for development investments. Focusing solely on supporting refugees, he cautioned, could create tensions that might ultimately lead to violence. The UN remains committed to addressing this worsening crisis and providing assistance to those affected, all while seeking long-term solutions to the deepening humanitarian challenges in Sudan.
