Sudan fighting spreads to World Heritage Site

TERRORISTS are running amok in Sudan. Many of them are not Sudanese. They're flaunting their heinous crimes because no one is stopping them.

From Agence France-Presse (AFP)
Dated Wednesday, 17 January 2024, 1:42 AM GMT - here is a copy in full:

Sudan fighting spreads to World Heritage Site

Fighting in Sudan has spread to the ancient sites of the Kingdom of Kush (ASHRAF SHAZLY)

Sudan's devastating nine-month war between two rival generals is spreading to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an NGO reported late Tuesday, sounding the alarm for the remains of the ancient Kingdom of Kush.

The Regional Network for Cultural Rights said it "strongly condemns the incursion by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)", the paramilitary forces of general Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, "on the sites of Naqa and Musawwarat es-Sufra".

RSF forces have been fighting against troops loyal to Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan since April last year.

The NGO said the incident, which took place on Sunday, marked the second time since December that fighting had broken out at the religious sites, located in the northern River Nile state.

State authorities also reported "an incursion by the RSF, repulsed by the air force", claiming that "calm has returned" without mentioning whether the sites suffered any damage.

The cultural rights group said it had consulted "reliable sources, images and videos posted on social networks showing fighting between the army and the RSF, which probably exposed the sites to vandalism, destruction, looting and theft".

According to UNESCO, the archaeological sites of the Island of Meroe, located about 220 kilometres (137 miles) from Khartoum, was "the heartland of the Kingdom of Kush" and is home to pyramids, temples and dwellings dating back thousands of years.

The ancient civilisations of Sudan built more pyramids than those of Egypt, but remain largely unknown.

The Island of Meroe, which lies between the Nile and Atbara rivers, is a World Heritage Site whose ancient civilisation borrowed cultural traits from Pharaonic Egypt, Greece and Rome.

More than 13,000 people have been killed since the war began in April, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, and the United Nations says more than seven million people have been displaced.   bur/sbh/pz/dhw/tym

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Sudan: 4.5M displaced, 76% of IDPs from Khartoum, SAF & RSF clashes in Nyala S. Darfur displaced 50K

'OCHA Sudan: Humanitarian Update 23 August 2023' - here is a full copy:

HIGHLIGHTS

• More than 4.5 million people have been displaced inside and outside Sudan due to the conflict that erupted on 15 April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
 

• Nearly 76 per cent of the people internally displaced are from Khartoum.
 

• Recent clashes between the SAF and RSF in Nyala, South Darfur, have displaced an estimated 50,000 people.
 

• Measles, whooping cough, acute watery diarrhoea, dengue fever and malaria have been reported in various states.
 

• More than 33,000 people have been affected by torrential rains in Northern State.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE (1 hour ago) [23 Aug 2023 17:00 BST]

Sudan Humanitarian Update (23 August 2023)

SITUATION OVERVIEW

As the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues across the country, civilian displacement and humanitarian needs continue to steadily increase.

To date, more than 4.5 million people have been displaced inside and outside the country due to the conflict that erupted on 15 April. More than 3.6 million people have been displaced internally as of 22 August, according to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM). People have been displaced across all 18 states. The majority are in River Nile, Northern, East Darfur, Sennar and White Nile states. Nearly 76 per cent of internally displaced people (IDPs) are originally from Khartoum. In addition, more than 947,000 people have crossed the border into neighbouring countries as of 21 August, including Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

At least 498 children in Sudan, and likely hundreds more, have died from hunger, including two dozen babies in a state orphanage, as critical services run out of food or close, according to a recent statement by the international NGO Save the Children (SC). Since the start of the conflict in mid-April, SC has been forced to close 57 nutrition facilities, leaving 31,000 children across the country without treatment for malnutrition and related illnesses. In the remaining 108 facilities that are still operational, therapeutic food stocks are running critically low. In May, Sudan's only factory for manufacturing "Plumpy'Nut", key to treating malnutrition in children, was burned to the ground. The factory had been producing around 10,000 tons of Plumpy’Nut paste every year, which was used by aid agencies such as SC, the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF. Even before the conflict, existing stocks in the country were nearly exhausted and could not be restocked due to funding shortages.

In Gedaref State, SC reported that at least 132 children died from malnutrition between April and July, 36 per cent of whom were admitted to one state hospital. The hospital has reported a significant increase in cases of malnutrition, especially among children recently displaced from Khartoum and living in squalid camps. In White Nile State, at least 316 children, mostly under the age of five, died from malnutrition or associated illnesses between May and July, and more than 2,400 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) – the deadliest form of malnutrition – were admitted to nutrition facilities since the beginning of the year.

An estimated 50,000 people (10,000 families) were displaced by renewed clashes between the SAF and RSF from 11 to 17 August in Nyala Town, the state capital of South Darfur State, according to IOM DTM. People fled their homes in Al-Mazad, Tayba, Seka Hadeed, Al-Jabal, Neil, Karrari, Musa and Texas neighbourhoods to Hai Al-Jeer, Al-Nahda, As Salam, Derwa and Kangho neighbourhoods within the town. Others took refuge in As Salam, Al Serief, Otash and Kalma displacement camps, with additional people fleeing to Tulus, Buram, As Salam and Damso localities. There are also reports of people arriving in Shia'ria locality and Ad Du’ayn Town in East Darfur and in Al Fasher Town in North Darfur. At least 60 people have been killed and 250 others injured during the fighting, according to IOM. Staff at the Turkish Hospital – which is already understaffed – are reportedly struggling to cope with the influx of wounded people, and humanitarian partners on the ground report that medical supplies are running low. Gathering information from Nyala Town in recent days has been challenging, as communication towers have reportedly been damaged during the fighting, and the electricity and water systems in the town are no longer functioning.

Clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) Al Hilu faction and SAF continue to be reported in South Kordofan. On 14 August, clashes took place in Kadugli Town, the state capital of South Kordofan State, reportedly forcing at least 6,700 people to flee to neighbourhoods in the west of the town, according to the government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in South Kordofan. This number has yet to be verified. During the clashes, two humanitarian compounds and many public buildings were hit by stray bullets. Humanitarian staff have been advised to restrict their movements in Kadugli Town. Due to the insecurity, aid workers travelling from other areas are not able to reach the town. Humanitarian food stocks in Kadugli Town have been depleted, and attempts to bring in more supplies have failed due to insecurity along the road from Dilling to Kadugli and due to the blocking of the road into the town by the SPLM-N. The last food distributions for three months were in May and will last families until the end of this month. Other humanitarian stocks in Kadugli, especially health and nutrition supplies, are also running low. Fighting between the SPLM-N Al Hilu faction and SAF has been ongoing and escalating in the state since 17 June. To date, nine out of 17 localities have been affected by the clashes, resulting in the displacement of more than 69,400 people.

Climate change has made Northern State very vulnerable to torrential rains and flash flooding. On 5 August, heavy rainfall affected six out of the seven localities in the state, including Merowe, Al Golid, Ad Dabbah, Dongola, Al Burgaig and Halfa. According to the HAC in Northern State, about 6,670 families (some 33,400 people) were affected by heavy rains, storms and flash flooding. About 1,580 homes were destroyed, 5,090 homes were damaged, 59 public facilities were affected, and 4,672 latrines were either destroyed or damaged.

So far, the HAC has distributed 20 tents, 40 blankets, 50 sleeping mats and 50 plastic sheets, while the Civil Defence has distributed 20 plastic sheets. The Zakat Chamber provided 100 bags of flour and some cash. The Ministry of Investment provided oil, and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) provided 150 blankets, 50 plastic sheets and 30 kitchen sets. Humanitarian partners need additional supplies to support those affected by the heavy rains and flooding. Outstanding needs include emergency shelter and non-food item (NFI) kits for 3,000 people; tools and equipment for vector control, as vector-borne diseases increase during the rainy season; 20,000 chlorine tablets for water purification; 100,000 plastic sacks; 50 water pumps; 100 first aid kits; 3,000 hygiene kits; and 3,000 mosquito nets.

The Health Cluster has reported suspected measles outbreaks in White Nile, Blue Nile, Gedaref, Kassala, Aj Jazirah, West Kordofan, River Nile, North Darfur and Red Sea states. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 3,046 suspected measles cases, with 84 associated deaths. Most of the cases are from White Nile and Blue Nile states. In White Nile, health partners are meeting weekly to update and monitor the response, and a vaccination campaign for children under five years of age is planned. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has reported 16 cases of suspected pertussis (whooping cough) in River Nile, Kassala and Red Sea states. In South Kordofan, 308 acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases and seven related deaths have been reported by health partners, while 23,743 AWD cases have been reported in Blue Nile, White Nile, Red Sea, Kassala and Gedaref States. In Red Sea State, 11 dengue fever cases have been confirmed. In Blue Nile, River Nile, White Nile, South and North Darfur, Red Sea, Kassala and Aj Jazirah states, 280,965 clinical cases of malaria and three associated deaths have been reported. In Port Sudan, 50 heat stroke cases, including 13 associated deaths, have been reported.

Trucks loaded with nutrition, health, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies destined for Nyala Town have remained in Ad Du'ayn Town, the capital of East Darfur, since 14 August due to the fighting, and planned distributions by the UN Children’s Agency (UNICEF) have been postponed. There are concerns that continued fighting will cause the already precarious humanitarian situation in the state to deteriorate and heighten the health, nutrition, sanitation and food security needs of the vulnerable. Meanwhile, some areas could become inaccessible if roads become impassable during the ongoing rainy season.

ACCESS

The spread of active conflict and armed clashes across Sudan, combined with impediments and obstacles faced by aid organizations, have continued to impact humanitarian access. A total of 865 access incidents have been reported since 15 April, of which over a third were due to active hostilities impeding relief operations. The highest number of incidents was recorded in Khartoum. A total of 220 visa applications are still pending, limiting the ability of aid organizations to scale up the response. Meanwhile, travel permits required for in-country movements are time-consuming to obtain and ultimately delay access to locations outside Port Sudan, particularly hard-to-reach areas such as Khartoum and the Darfur region. 

The looting of aid facilities, warehouses and supplies continues to pose a major challenge to the humanitarian response, diminishing stocks and equipment and resulting in delays in the delivery of life-saving assistance. A total of 19 aid workers have been killed in Sudan since 15 April. At least 26 aid workers have been detained since mid-April, and many others report having faced attempts of forced recruitment by armed groups. Looting represents almost a third of all access-related incidents. In June and July, 15 warehouses, 11 offices and 43 vehicles were looted. This brings the total to 50 warehouses, 83 offices and 202 vehicles since the conflict began. Looting of medical supplies, food stores and nutrition supplies has put millions of people at increased risk of acute malnutrition and even starvation. Under international humanitarian law (IHL), all humanitarian facilities must be afforded full protection from attacks and looting during conflict.

Despite these ongoing challenges, access and civil-military coordination efforts have enabled the movement of relief items on the ground. A total of 683 trucks carried over 31,000 metric tons (MT) of relief items to people in need across 13 states in Sudan in June and July, bringing the total cumulative amount delivered to over 71,000 MT since 22 May. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) deconfliction and access negotiation system has allowed partners to deliver relief items to Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, West Kordofan and White Nile. Significantly, in July, 13 new localities were reached for the first time since 15 April through the OCHA-led Humanitarian Information Sharing Mechanism, through which the location of humanitarian sites and facilities are communicated to parties to the conflict. Cross-border assistance continues from Egypt and Ethiopia, and a scale-up in assistance from Chad into Darfur is expected in the coming weeks. Full details on humanitarian access are available on the Humanitarian Access Situation Report (June to July 2023). 

STATE UPDATES

The majority of people internally displaced across the country due to the conflict are from Khartoum State. IOM estimates that more than 2.7 million people fled their homes in Khartoum to other locations within the state or to other states. An estimated 40,225 people (about 1.47 per cent of the people displaced from the state) are currently displaced within Khartoum and have taken refuge within the localities of Bahri, Jebel Awlia, Karrari, Khartoum, Sharg An Neel, Um Bada and Um Durman, as of 22 August. About 64 per cent of internally displaced people (IDPs) are living with relatives; the rest have rented accommodations.

River Nile State hosts the highest number of displaced people within Sudan. More than 510,000 people (14 per cent of all people internally displaced) have taken refuge in 244 locations across Abu Hamad, Ad Damar, Al Buhaira, Al Matama, Atbara, Barbar and Shendi localities. About 77 per cent of the displaced people are living with relatives, 15.75 per cent have rented accommodations, 4 per cent have taken refuge in schools and public buildings, and 2.4 per cent have taken refuge in improvised shelters.

In Northern State, IOM reports that 362,946 people fleeing the conflict between SAF and RSF have taken refuge in 234 locations across the state as of 22 August. All of the newly displaced people in Northern State have arrived from Khartoum, fleeing fighting between the SAF and RSF, and have taken refuge in Ad Dabbah, Al Burgaig, Al Golid, Delgo, Dongola, Halfa and Merowe localities. About 81 per cent of the displaced people are living with relatives, 10 per cent have taken refuge in schools and public buildings, and about 9 per cent have rented accommodations.

Due to increasing humanitarian needs in the state, coordinated humanitarian assistance is needed. To ensure this, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) held an orientation session for line ministries and humanitarian actors in the state on 17 August on the establishment of an area humanitarian country team (A/HCT), an area inter-agency cluster coordination group (A/ICCG), and a cluster system in the state. It was agreed to establish both the A/HCT and A/ICCG groups and hold regular meetings, and to establish a cluster system starting with health, education, agriculture, WASH, and protection – including child protection and gender-based violence (GBV). OCHA will train staff from the government HAC in Northern State and partners in the state on the operation of these coordination structures.

IOM estimates that more than 36,000 people have taken refuge in schools and other public buildings. State authorities have allocated spaces where shelters can be built to house IDPs and requested UNHCR’s help in building the shelters ahead of the winter season, which is fast approaching. UNHCR, in collaboration with HAC in Northern State, has distributed the full package of NFIs to 218 families, benefitting about 1,100 people in seven gathering sites.

Humanitarian workers are facing several gaps and challenges in responding to the needs of displaced people in Northern State. There are insufficient nutrition services and supplies for children and nursing mothers and a lack of ambulance services for referrals, amid high transportation costs. Displaced people at gathering sites also have little food, and there are not enough hygiene promotion activities. Services catering to children and people with special needs are also lacking. Humanitarian partners do not have adequate funds to respond to the needs of people affected by flooding in six localities in the state. There is also a limited number of partners on the ground, and these partners lack resources for the response. There are further difficulties in identifying and registering displaced people living with families or who have rented accommodations. Meanwhile, communications connectivity is poor.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Delivering humanitarian assistance has been challenged by insecurity, looting and bureaucratic impediments. Despite these issues, 100 humanitarian partners reached about 2.9 million people with life-saving assistance between April and July 2023. This includes vital education, health, food, nutrition, water and protection assistance. Before the conflict, 2.7 million people were reached with humanitarian assistance between January and March.

Since the start of the crisis in mid-April, WFP has provided in-kind food assistance to 1.8 million people across 15 states of Sudan’s 18 states. In July, more than 632,000 people received food assistance in Blue Nile, East Darfur, Gedaref, Aj Jazirah, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, South Kordofan and White Nile states. However, access constraints – particularly in Darfur states, where violence is escalating – are hindering food distributions. Due to increased food needs, WFP plans to provide food assistance to 6.3 million people by the end of the year, an increase from the agency’s previous target of 5.9 million. The assistance will provide 262,000 children up to five years of age and pregnant and nursing women with nutrition assistance, and more than 635,000 people with malnutrition prevention activities. To achieve this, WFP is collaborating with UNICEF and other organizations to expand the delivery of nutrition support and assistance across vulnerable regions and augment capacity and implementation on the ground. As of July, WFP has reached about 49,500 children and pregnant and nursing women with malnutrition prevention activities. To sustain operations across the country, WFP in Sudan urgently requires US $367 million until January 2024.

FUNDING OVERVIEW

Humanitarian partners urgently require additional resources to scale up relief efforts across Sudan. The revised Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requires US$2.6 billion to provide life-saving multi-sectoral assistance and protection services to 18.1 million people through the end of this year. To date, the appeal is only 25.7 per cent is funded, with $658.4 million received as of 23 August, according to the Financial Tracking Service.

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Sudan: Humanitarian Update. 53 healthcare attacks, 11 dead. Aid workers attacked or detained, 18 killed

HERE is a full copy of a Press Release from OCHA

(United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)

Dated Monday 07 August 2023

SUDAN: Humanitarian Update (7 August 2023) 

HIGHLIGHTS • More than 3 million people have been internally displaced across all of Sudan’s 18 states due to the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as of 1 August. • About 2.2 million of all people internally displaced have fled from Khartoum State. • About 880,000 people have fled the conflict across Sudan’s borders into neighbouring countries, including Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan, as of 3 August. • About 20.3 million people across Sudan – over 42 per cent of the population – are now facing high levels of acute food insecurity between July and September 2023. More than 6.2 million people are just one step away from famine. • On 3 August, the first humanitarian convoy to reach East Darfur since the start of the conflict arrived in the state, after a nine-day road trip. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) facilitated the first cross-border delivery of food items by the World Food Programme (WFP) from Chad into West Darfur, one of the most food-insecure states in the country. Those supplies arrived in West Darfur on 3 August.

SITUATION OVERVIEW As the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues across the country, more people are being displaced and humanitarian needs are increasing daily. To date, about 3.9 million people have been displaced inside and outside the country due to the conflict that erupted on 15 April. More than 3 million people have been displaced internally as of 1 August, according to the International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM). People have been displaced across all 18 states, the majority of whom are in River Nile, Northern, North Darfur and White Nile states. About 71 per cent of those displaced are originally from Khartoum. The most severe clashes have taken place in the capital city of Khartoum and the state capital of West Darfur, Ag Geneina town. Additionally, ­fighting between SAF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) has been reported in several locations across South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, resulting in civilian displacement. In addition, about 880,000 refugees, asylum seekers and returnees have crossed the border into neighbouring countries, including Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan as of 3 August, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Humanitarian needs across the country continue to rise. The conflict and economic crisis have driven about 20.3 million people across Sudan (over 42 per cent of the population) into high levels of acute food insecurity between July and September 2023, according to the latest report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) for Sudan. This is nearly double the number of food-insecure people compared to the last IPC analysis conducted in May 2022. Of these food-insecure people, 14 million (29 per cent of the population) are in crisis levels, IPC Phase 3. This means that people have less food to eat and are forced to adopt crisis-coping strategies, such as eating fewer meals a day. More than 6.2 million people (13 per cent of the population) are at emergency levels, IPC 4, just one step away from famine (IPC 5). They mainly reside in states with active conflict and are selling off assets to buy food.   On 30 July, Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority extended the closure of Sudanese airspace until 15 August 2023 to all air traffic, except for humanitarian aid and evacuation flights. Sudanese airspace has been closed to regular air traffic since mid-April, when the conflict between the SAF and RSF erupted. In addition, state authorities in North Kordofan imposed a curfew from 1900 to 0500 across the entire state, effective from 2 August until further notice.

STATE UPDATES The majority of people internally displaced due to the conflict are from Khartoum State. IOM estimates that 2.2 million people have fled the state capital Khartoum, with 2.16 million people going to other states, while about 38,400 people have been displaced in seven locations within the state, mainly in Bahri (Khartoum North), Jebel Awlia, Karrari, Khartoum, Sharg An Neel, Um Bada and Um Durman localities. Most of these displaced people are living with relatives, while the rest have rented accommodations. More than 420,100 people, mostly displaced from Khartoum, have taken refuge in 73 locations across six localities in Blue Nile State, mainly Ed Damazine, Ar Rusayirs, Al Kurmuk, At Tadamon, Geisan, and Wad Al Mahi localities. About 66 per cent of displaced households are seeking shelter with relatives, while the remaining 34 per cent have rented accommodations. On 9 July, an inter-agency assessment mission was carried out in Ed Damazine and Rusayris localities. The World Food Programme (WFP) plans to start a verification exercise for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Khartoum in these two localities to provide them with food assistance. UNICEF plans to rehabilitate two water yards in Abu Hashim, Ed Damazine locality. On 25 July, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a measles outbreak in Wad Al Mahi locality, with 211 suspected cases and nine related deaths reported between 1 May and 24 July. Most of the cases were reported in Dam Town 7/ Umdarfa, while other cases were reported in Dam Town 1, 2 and 3. One suspected case each was reported in Ed Damazine and Geisan localities. A measles vaccination of 2,989 children under five years of age was carried out in Dam Town 7/ Umdarfa between 31 May and 2 June 2023. WHO and the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) are planning to vaccinate children under five years of age in Wad Al Mahi locality and catchment areas. About 297,000 people have arrived in North Darfur State after fleeing the conflict between SAF and RSF forces, according to IOM. Those displaced are taking refuge in 72 locations across Al Fasher, Al Koma, Al Lait, Al Malha, As Serief, At Tawisha, Dar As Salam, Kebkabiya, Kelemando, Kernoi, Kutum, Melit, Saraf Omra, Tawila, and Um Kadadah localities. Most (93 per cent) have been displaced from within the state, while the remaining displaced people have arrived from West Darfur, Khartoum, South Darfur and Central Darfur states. More than 43 per cent of those displaced are living with the host community, 17.5 per cent are living in IDP camps, and 6.5 per cent have taken refuge in schools or other public buildings. Northern State is hosting about 361,000 displaced people from Khartoum across 232 locations, according to IOM. All IDPs within Northern State have reportedly arrived from Khartoum. Displaced populations have been reported in Dabbah, Al Burgaig, Al Golid, Delgo, Dongola, Halfa and Merowe localities. Most of those displaced (80.96 per cent) are living with relatives, 8.7 per cent have rented accommodations, and 10.3 per cent have taken refuge in school premises or other public buildings. Many of the displaced people in Northern State are either waiting for the situation to improve in Khartoum or for their visas to Egypt to be processed, as it is close to both Argeen and Ashkeet border crossings. As people continue to move to Northern State, basic services are becoming stretched. On 27 July, the Medical Director of the Halfa Hospital indicated that remaining medicines and medical supplies in the hospital were only sufficient for one more week. Furthermore, the laboratory in Halfa Hospital lacks the supplies needed for different medical tests. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services are also affected. Access to safe drinking water is one of the main needs for displaced people at gathering points or shelters, as are sanitation facilities. More than 15 per cent of those displaced by the conflict between the SAF and RSF have taken refuge in River Nile State, which hosts about 467,700 displaced people across 244 locations, according to IOM. All IDPs have reportedly arrived from Khartoum and have taken refuge in Hamad, Ad Damar, Al Buhaira, Al Matama, Atbara, Barbar and Shendi localities. About 78 per cent of the displaced population are living with relatives and 15 per cent have rented accommodations, while the remaining displaced people are either sheltering in schools and public buildings or out in the open in gathering sites.   West Darfur currently hosts about 119,500 displaced people in nine locations across the state, according to IOM. IDPs have been reported in Ag Geneina, Foro Baranga, Jebel Moon, Kulbus and Sirba localities. The vast majority of those displaced have reportedly come from within the state (99 per cent) while others came from Central Darfur, Khartoum and South Darfur. About 73 per cent of the displaced population have taken refuge in shelters, while 27 per cent are living with relatives. On 2 July 2023, inter-communal conflict between Arab and Masalit tribesmen spread to Murnie Town in Kereneik locality. An estimated 87,500 people (17,535 households) were reportedly displaced by this conflict within the state and into neighbouring South Darfur and West Darfur states. Due to insecurity and targeted killings, people from Ag Geneina, Habila, Beida, Forobaranga, Kreneik, Mornei and Sisi localities continue to cross the border into neighbouring Chad.   On 29 July, RSF – supported by Arab militias in more than 100 vehicles and on motorbikes – reportedly attacked Sirba Town (50 kilometres north of Ag Geneina Town), according to the head of the Government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), Adam Abdelnabi Al-Sheikh. The Commissioner reported that the entire town has been looted and burned, and an unspecified number of civilians have reportedly been killed. He also reported that about three-quarters of the town’s inhabitants have fled to Kondobei and Bir Dageeg villages in Sirba locality, while others crossed the border to Birak in neighbouring Chad. The remaining residents did not leave the town, as many were children, women and older or disabled people. After the attack on Sirba, the perpetrators went to Kondobei and Bir Dageeg villages, where they intimidated and looted residents’ homes, according to the HAC Commissioner. The de facto Wali (governor) of West Darfur formed a peace committee with representatives of the different tribes in Sirba locality to address the conflict and sign a reconciliation agreement between the tribes. More than 272,300 people have been displaced in 498 locations across White Nile State since the start of the conflict in mid-April, IOM reports. All of those displaced have reportedly arrived from Khartoum State and have taken refuge in Ad Diwaim, Aj Jabalain, Al Gitaina, As Salam/Ar Rawat, Guli, Kosti, Rabak, Tendalti and Um Rimta localities. More than half of the displaced population are living with relatives, 30 per cent are living in camp-like settlements, 9.8 per cent have rented accommodations, and the rest are staying in schools, public buildings or in open areas.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE AND CHALLENGES Since the start of the conflict in mid-April, humanitarians have worked to ensure the continued delivery of life-saving assistance to people in need, wherever and whenever possible. On 3 August, the first humanitarian convoy to reach East Darfur since the fighting began on 15 April arrived in the state, after a nine-day road trip. OCHA negotiated with the SAF, RSF, state governor, HAC, and community leaders in North and West Kordofan and East Darfur states for the movement of these trucks from White Nile to East Darfur. The SAF and RSF secured the roads in their areas of control, and community leaders supported the movement of the relief items between Tandulti and Um Rawaba in North Kordofan, and from El Fula in West Kordofan to the border of East Darfur state. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also facilitated the first cross-border delivery of food items by the World Food Programme (WFP) from Chad into West Darfur, one of the most food-insecure states in the country. Those supplies arrived in West Darfur on 3 August. Insecurity, bureaucratic access impediments, and looting of humanitarian premises and warehouses across the country continue to negatively impact the delivery of assistance. At least 18 aid workers have been killed, with many others injured or detained, since the start of the conflict in mid-April. Between 15 April and 3 August 2023, there have been 53 attacks on health care, resulting in 11 deaths and 38 injuries, according to the WHO Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care (SSA). These figures only represent attacks that WHO has been able to verify through its verification system. Attacks on health care include incidents involving hospitals, ambulances, laboratories, warehouses, health workers and patients. Some humanitarian organizations have also been forced to shutter offices or suspend operations in areas they are unable to access due to security concerns, mainly in Khartoum and the Darfur region. Any remaining resources will be used to scale up operations in accessible areas. Funding shortfalls, the limited capacity of humanitarian personnel and government counterparts on the ground, lack of fuel needed for the transportation of humanitarian supplies and staff, lack of access to money in banks, and difficulties in delivering humanitarian supplies to areas outside state capitals due to insecurity have also affected the humanitarian response. These challenges are further compounded by power outages, as well as poor internet and telephone connectivity.

CLUSTER UPDATES Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster: The Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) Cluster partners continue to support people affected by the conflict with life-saving food and livelihood assistance. Since mid-April, FSL partners reached 2.03 million people with life-saving food assistance and 45,000 people with life-saving livelihoods assistance. FSL partners also distributed 2,800 metric tons (MT) of seeds benefitting 280,000 people. FSL partners plan to distribute a total of 8,840 MT of cereal seeds to 1 million vulnerable farmers for the planting season. The conflict is undermining the current planting season, coupled with soaring prices of fertilizer and seeds, which is impacting the food security and livelihoods situation in Sudan. The main livestock vaccination laboratory in Khartoum has been closed due to the conflict, and the resulting unavailability of livestock vaccines will also impact people’s livelihoods. Refugee Consultation Forum (RCF): Following the start of the conflict between the SAF and RSF, refugees are facing acute protection risks, including heightened risks of detention, extortion and deportation, according to Refugee Consultation Forum (RCF) partners. There are reports of refugees being stopped by armed elements or prevented from moving from one place to another. Refugees in White Nile State are facing critical gaps in services. Refugee camps were already below SPHERE[1] standards before the conflict, due to chronic funding shortages and a lack of durable solutions, and the fighting that has continued since mid-April has only made conditions worse. As people started arriving in the state from Khartoum, there has been an increase in the number of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) cases, as well as a suspected measles outbreak. About 300 South Sudanese refugee children in the state have died due to suspected measles and malnutrition, according to RCF partners. Since the start of the conflict, an estimated 187,333 refugee movements to new locations in the country have been reported. Most of these movements have been from Khartoum to White Nile State, with South Sudanese refugees accounting for more than 144,000 of the total. RCF partners have verified that 71 per cent are internal secondary movements, of which 16 per cent are women, 14 per cent are men, 34 per cent are girls, and 36 per cent are boys. Between 26 July and 1 August, RCF partners continued to respond to the needs of refugees across the country. In East Darfur, 633 South Sudanese refugees were reached with general protection awareness-raising activities. In South Kordofan and Gedaref states, 1,310 outpatient consultations were provided, and 393 Ethiopian refugees received mental health and psycho-social support (PSS) services. Case management continues to be provided for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection cases, ensuring access to specialized services.  Logistics Cluster: The Logistics Cluster is currently providing storage services to partners at four locations, including in Port Sudan (Red Sea State), Wad Madani (Aj Jazirah State), Kosti (White Nile State), and Gedaref Town (Gedaref State). In the past week, the Logistics Cluster has provided storage space of up to 2,542 cubic meters for four partners at warehouses in Port Sudan, Wad Madani and Kosti. The cluster is in the process of contracting 190 square meters of temperature-controlled storage space for WFP. [1] The SPHERE standards are a set of minimum standards in humanitarian response for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); food security and nutrition; shelter and settlement; and health assistance.

FUNDING Humanitarian partners urgently require additional resources to scale up relief efforts across Sudan. The revised Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) requires US$2.6 billion to provide life-saving multi-sectoral assistance and protection services to 18.1 million people through the end of this year. To date, the appeal is only 24.5 per cent is funded, with $628 million received as of 6 August, according to the Financial Tracking Service.

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