Sudan: Janjaweed RSF militia chief Hemeti met with South Sudanese officials from Abyei in Nairobi Jan 3

ACCORDING to this article, the primary purpose of the meeting cited was to follow up on previous discussions held in Khartoum regarding the final status of Abyei and the repatriation of Abyei citizens who had sought refuge in Sudan prior to the Sudanese crisis. Who is giving Hemeti such confidence and authority to attend to such matters? Who is in charge of Sudan? Let's not forget, in 2020 Russia signed a deal with Sudan for a naval base in the Red Sea, in return Russia will provide arms and training for Sudan's military.

Read more from Sudan Tribune
Dated Sunday, 07 January 2024 - here is a copy in full:

Sudanese RSF leader pledges safe passage for Abyei and South Sudan returnees

Hemetti met with several South Sudanese officials from Abyei area in Nairobi on January 3, 2023 [2024?]

January 7, 2024 (JUBA) – General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti”, the head of the Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Force (RSF), has reaffirmed his commitment to facilitate the safe return of Abyei natives and South Sudanese nationals who have fled the conflict in Sudan.

The pledge was made during a meeting with Abyei leaders Francis Mading Deng and Luka Biong Deng in Nairobi, Kenya on January 3, 2024. The meeting, which lasted for an hour, was characterized as amicable, open, and forward-looking by Francis Kuol, a former Sudan cabinet affairs minister.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to follow up on previous discussions held in Khartoum regarding the final status of Abyei and the repatriation of Abyei citizens who had sought refuge in Sudan prior to the Sudanese crisis. Francis Deng, who has also engaged in similar discussions with General Burhan, the head of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, in New York, USA during his participation to the United Nations General Assembly in September 2022, added that he had also held similar dialogues with General Malik Agar, the Deputy Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereign Council, during his visits to Juba.

The Abyei leaders expressed their appreciation to Daglo for his endeavours to bring an end to the brutal civil war in Sudan and his historic diplomatic initiatives to neighbouring African countries in pursuit of peace.

The meeting touched upon three critical issues: peace in Sudan, the potential role of South Sudan under the leadership of President Salva Kiir in facilitating Sudanese peace, and the repatriation of Abyei natives displaced and stranded in RSF-controlled areas.

Deng highlighted the pivotal role that South Sudan, under the leadership of President Salva Kiir Mayardit, could play in mediating Sudanese peace. He emphasized the urgent need to establish secure conditions to enable the return of Abyei citizens displaced by the conflict in Sudan and the crucial role of the RSF in securing transit routes for the return of South Sudanese citizens.

The authorization of the meeting by President Salva Kiir and members of his administration remains unclear. The South Sudanese ambassador in Kenya declined to comment when asked if he had been informed of the arrangement.

Hemetti, heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Force, which has been engaged in a war against the Sudan Armed Forces under the command of its chief and Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, since April 2023.

The RSF has been out of the public eye for several months. He utilized this period to embark on diplomatic missions to neighbouring countries and participate in global events and functions.

In late December 2023, the head of the Sudanese paramilitary group made his first wartime diplomatic trip to Uganda, where he met with President Yoweri Museveni. He also met with leaders from Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda. (ST)

View original: https://sudantribune.com/article281083/

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Further Reading

The Maritime Executive - 13 December 2017

Russia Moves Forward with Syrian Naval Base - excerpt:

"For Russia, a naval base in Syria . . . is always a place where Russian navy men can take a short rest and hold quick repairs, if necessary. Taking into account that the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions are of strategic importance for world security, Russian forces should stay here indefinitely," said Mikhail Nenashev, chairman of the All-Russian Fleet Support Movement, speaking to Pravda.

The base at Tartus has been under Russian control since 1971, and Russia finalized a 74-year renewal agreement with Syria in January with a 49-year lease followed by a 25-year automatic extension. The enlarged facility will operate outside of Damascus' legal jurisdiction, and Syria will not interfere with any military activities related to its operation. Separately, Russia has also renewed its lease on a military airbase in Western Syria for a period of 50 years. 

Full story: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/russia-moves-forward-with-syrian-naval-base

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The Maritime Executive - 09 December 2020

Russia Signs Deal With Sudan for Naval Base on the Red Sea - excerpt:

The agreement provides the Russian Navy with access to Port Sudan for a period of 25 years, with automatic renewal every decade thereafter. It may keep up to four naval vessels at a time at the port, including nuclear-powered vessels - an important consideration for Russia's submarine fleet. For logistics, Russian forces have permission to use Sudanese ports and airports to deliver any needed "weapons and equipment" to keep the port running. On-base manning is limited to 300 Russian personnel. 

In return, Russia will provide arms and training for Sudan's military, extending a role it already plays in the country. Last year, Russia and Sudan signed a seven-year agreement that provides the Sudanese government with military support, and Russian military advisors have participated in Sudanese public security operations. 

Full story: https://maritime-executive.com/article/russia-signs-deal-with-sudan-for-naval-base-on-the-red-sea

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Sudan: SAF & RSF clashes in Aj Jazirah Wad Medani

UN OCHA SUDAN update as of Jan 8 says: "Insecurity and safety concerns are the main operational challenges in Al Jazeera  State, with humanitarian missions suspended since 15 December 2023 and virtually no humanitarian partners operating in Wad Madani as the conflict is still ongoing.

An implementing partner of the World Food Programme (WFP) operates nutrition services with limited capacity at Al Managil and Al Hasahisa, covering Supplementary Feeding Programmes (SFP).

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) deployed teams to conduct rapid needs assessments in Sennar, Gedaref, and White Nile states.

In Gedaref, preparations for the Alhoury IDP gathering site are ongoing, with plans for some IDPs to be moved to the site on 7 January. ZOA is providing ready-made meals to IDPs upon arrival at the site. Care International in Sudan is building emergency latrines, and the local NGO Al Tawaki provides drinking water. 

In Sennar, the security situation remains a significant challenge as shelling and aerial bombardment continue to be reported in the outskirts of Sennar, including near the Sennar Sugar Factory, about 32 km northwest of Sennar. Interruptions of Internet and mobile networks, bank services, and cash liquidity have continued to pose challenges to the operations of humanitarian organizations.

In the states of Kassala and Red Sea, humanitarian partners are responding to the needs of new IDPs from Aj Jazirah. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland is a new implementing partner that began operating in Kassala. 52 sites (primarily public schools) currently hosting the newly displaced families from Jazirah. 

In Red Sea State, the authorities have opened two new gathering sites to accommodate IDPs from Jazirah and other locations and have registered 280 new arrivals at Abdalla Nagi and Salalab Algarbyia schools. 

In White Nile State, NRC distributed 500 hygiene kits in Aj Jabalain locality and three gathering sites in Kosti.

In Blue Nile State, Relief International (RI) will soon deploy two mobile clinics to support IDPs from Aj Jazirah". Read more.

From UN OCHA 

SUDAN: Clashes in Wad Medani between the SAF and RSF Flash Update No: 6 (as of 8 January 2024) - here is a copy in full:

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Since 15 December 2023, an estimated 509,800 people have been affected by the clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in parts of Aj Jazirah State, according to theInternational Organization for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Focused Flash Alert: Conflict in Aj Jazirah State. IOM DTM Sudan estimated that of this number about 275,800 internally displaced persons (IDPs) – or 54 per cent of the total affected individuals – were subjected to first-time displacement, originating from Medani Al Kurba and Sharg Aj Jazirah localities in Aj Jazirah State.

About 234,000 IDPs – 46 per cent of the total affected – had previously sought refuge in Aj Jazirah from Khartoum State and experienced secondary displacement following the outbreak of violence in Aj Jazirah on 15 December 2023. In addition, IOM DTM field teams found out that 152,400 IDPs that were living in 380 locations in Sharg Al Jazirah, Medani Al Kubra, Al Hasahisa, Janub Al Jazirah, Al Kamlin, and Um Algura left those locations. These locations included 133 schools, 24 sheltering centers, 35 villages, and 50 neighbourhoods.

Roads to villages located east of Aj Jazirah, including Sharg Al Neel in Khartoum State, have been cut off, with traders using alternative roads to bring supplies. This has created a shortage in basic food commodities and the prices have reportedly tripled. Cattle owners reportedly face significant shortages of animal feed, with thousands of cattle at risk of being lost. There are reports of civilian displacement in Al Managil, with displaced people sheltering in schools, while prices for fuel have reportedly quadrupled affecting the movement of people and supplies.

There are also some reports of IDPs from Aj Jazirah arriving in parts of White Nile State near the border with South Sudan, and individual cases of people moving further to Renk, and onward to Juba in South Sudan. According to an NGO partner, about 500 people arrived in the Aj Jabalain area near the South Sudan border.

­While many affected IDPs reportedly sought refuge in relatively safer locations within Aj Jazirah (about 205,500 people), DTM field teams reported that 60 per cent of the total affected people – representing 304,340 IDPs – fled to other states in Sudan. IDPs from Aj Jazirah were observed in Gedaref (64,551 IDPs), Sennar (60,000 IDPs), Red Sea (50,035 IDPs), White Nile (40,750 IDPs), River Nile (30,000 IDPs), Kassala (30,000 IDPs), Blue Nile (15,000 IDPs), and Northern (14,000 IDPs) states.

Before the eruption of the clashes on 15 December 2023, DTM Sudan estimated that about 525,000 IDPs sought refuge within Aj Jazirah as of 13 December 2023 – with the vast majority reportedly displaced from Khartoum state (more than 99 per cent) and less than 1 per cent originating from Aj Jazirah. The majority of IDPs were in Al Hasahisa (17 per cent), Medani Al Kubra (16 per cent), Al Kamlin (16 per cent), Sharg Al Jazirah (16 per cent), and Al Qurashi (10 per cent) localities.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

Insecurity and safety concerns are the main operational challenges in Al Jazeera State, with humanitarian missions suspended since 15 December 2023 and virtually no humanitarian partners operating in Wad Medani as the conflict is still ongoing.

An implementing partner of the World Food Programme (WFP) operates nutrition services with limited capacity at Al Managil and Al Hasahisa, covering Supplementary Feeding Programmes (SFP).

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) deployed teams to conduct rapid needs assessments in Sennar, Gedaref, and White Nile states.

In Gedaref, preparations for the Alhoury IDP gathering site are ongoing, with plans for some IDPs to be moved to the site on 7 January. ZOA is providing ready-made meals to IDPs upon arrival at the site. Care International in Sudan is building emergency latrines, and the local NGO Al Tawaki provides drinking water. 

Site management cluster partners erect shelters and install basic Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and health service facilities on-site. Ed Al-Tine, Umm Khanjar, and Wad Omar schools are being assessed as options for the second proposed IDP site in central Gedaref. NRC will be responsible for the site management in Al Fao, and the location in Al Mafaza locality will be prepared soon. The inter-sector rapid needs assessment (ISRNA) will commence once the IDPs are relocated to the proposed sites.

Meanwhile, some partners have reported restrictions on access to Al Fao imposed by security bodies for safety reasons. This has affected the provision of humanitarian assistance e.g., mobile clinic services in the area.

NRC completed two distributions, delivering 300 non-food item (NFI) kits to about 1,500 newly displaced people in Al Mafaza locality. NRC is also actively preparing for upcoming distributions in Al Galabat Al Gharbyah locality in Gedaref, with a special focus on assisting about 600 IDPs relocating to this area. 

The current efforts include site preparation, such as ground levelling and tent setup, along with NFI distribution. NRC also organized a one-day training session for 15 Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) volunteers on general protection aspects with a particular emphasis on individual protection assistance for new IDPs.

In Sennar, the security situation remains a significant challenge as shelling and aerial bombardment continue to be reported in the outskirts of Sennar, including near the Sennar Sugar Factory, about 32 km northwest of Sennar. Interruptions of Internet and mobile networks, bank services, and cash liquidity have continued to pose challenges to the operations of humanitarian organizations. SRCS, with support from the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, distributed food items (sugar, lentils, rice, oil, beans) to 2,367 IDPs from Aj Jazirah at five gathering sites and 7,000 residents from the host communities in Sennar. SRCS also continues hygiene promotion campaigns and provides first aid and psychosocial support to the IDPs in gathering sites in Sennar. NRC provided non-food supplies to about 2,700 newly displaced people in Sennar and Sinja localities.

In the states of Kassala and Red Sea, humanitarian partners are responding to the needs of new IDPs from Aj Jazirah. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Holland is a new implementing partner that began operating in Kassala. 52 sites (primarily public schools) currently hosting the newly displaced families from Jazirah. Most sector partners are responding to the new influx with their available resources, and other sectors have started planning the response activities. 

The situation is dynamic with the continuous commuting of families in and out of Kassala. WFP is set to distribute general food assistance rations shortly to 4,818 IDPs from Aj Jazirah in 52 gathering points. The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) team also plans to provide food in coordination with WFP.

WASH cluster partners are conducting a two-day technical needs assessment on 7-8 January in all 52 IDP locations in Kassala. The Water and Environmental Sanitation Department (WES) has about 20 water bladders of different sizes to be installed immediately after the technical assessment. The two national NGOs – Al Eshrag Organization for Development and Reconstruction and Friends of Peace and Development Organization (FPDO) – provide water and hygiene kits for the newly displaced people.

In Red Sea State, the authorities have opened two new gathering sites to accommodate IDPs from Jazirah and other locations and have registered 280 new arrivals at Abdalla Nagi and Salalab Algarbyia schools. Newly arrived IDPs from Aj Jazirah need shelter, non-food supplies and food assistance. Port Sudan youth groups started providing ready meals with their limited resources. A significant number of newly displaced families are believed to be staying with host communities.

In White Nile State, NRC distributed 500 hygiene kits in Aj Jabalain locality and three gathering sites in Kosti.

In Blue Nile State, Relief International (RI) will soon deploy two mobile clinics to support IDPs from Aj Jazirah. Human Appeal and other organizations have provided food for IDPs at Nahda school. UNICEF supported the provision of 2,000 litres of safe water for newly arrived IDPs from Aj Jazirah in Ed Damazine. UNICEF has also provided cleaning tools for two IDP gathering sites (schools) in Ed Damazine town and conducted three-day cleaning campaigns. IRC provided WASH NFIs and hygiene dignity kits for about 450 IDPs at two gathering sites.  

BACKGROUND

After years of protracted crisis, Sudan plunged into a conflict of alarming scale when fighting between SAF and RSF broke out initially in Khartoum on 15 April, and quickly expanded to other areas across the country. Khartoum has been the site of heavy fighting, while severe violent clashes and heavy bombardments have also been reported in the greater Darfur and Kordofan regions. The hostilities have resulted in extensive damage to critical infrastructure and facilities, including water and healthcare, the collapse of banking and financial services, frequent interruptions to electricity supply and telecommunication services and widespread looting. Since the conflict broke out, humanitarian needs have increased and almost 25 million people now require assistance in Sudan. More than 6.8 million people have been forced to leave their homes for safety elsewhere.

An estimated 5.9 million people live in Aj Jazirah State, Sudan’s breadbasket, with 700,000 living in Wad Medani. More than 270,000 people in the town need humanitarian assistance. Since April 15, 2023, nearly 500,000 people have fled to Al Jazirah State, 86,400 of whom are in Wad Medani. About 1.9 million people are in crisis (IPC 3) and have above-level food security in the state, with 179,000 in Wad Medani between October 2023 and February 2024, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). There is an ongoing cholera outbreak in Aj Jazirah and neighbouring states. 57 humanitarian organizations work in the state, including 25 international NGOs, 21 national NGOs and six UN agencies. So far this year humanitarian organizations have reached 730,000 people in Aj Jazirah with food assistance, WASH, health and other humanitarian interventions.

*** 

For more information, please contact: Alimbek Tashtankulov, Public Information Officer, OCHA Sudan, tashtankulov@un.org, Mob: +249 (0)912 160361  

View original and Download report with map here: 

https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/sudan/flash-update/4o5Zm94HTs1ilqxfZfZ40U/

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Sudan: Qatar Charity provides new food aid to war-affected families in Northern, Kassala, Red Sea states

Article at Gulf Times
Dated Sunday, 07 January 2024; 09:35 PM - here is a copy in full:

Qatar Charity provides new food aid to war-affected families in Sudan

With funding from the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), Qatar's ambassador to Sudan Mohamed bin Ibrahim al-Sada, Sudan Humanitarian Aid Commission's (HAC) federal commissioner Dr Salah al-Mubarak and officials from the Qatari embassy in Port Sudan, launched new shipments of food aid to the states of Kassala, Northern, and Red Sea.

This is part of a project aimed at providing 50,000 food packages to families affected by the war and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan, a Qatar Charity (QC) statement said Sunday.

Ambassador al-Sada emphasised Qatar's continuation of humanitarian efforts aimed at assisting the Sudanese people affected by the war. He lauded the relief interventions by QFFD and QC since beginning of the conflict and stated that Qatar's support for the people in Sudan will continue in the next phase as it is a core humanitarian duty.

Dr al-Mubarak expressed the Sudanese government's appreciation for the continuous response from Qatar, as well as from the QFFD and QC, to help those affected by the war in various states of Sudan. He stated that their recent intervention by providing 8,000 food packages for the IDPs and affected individuals is of great importance, especially after the displacement due to the recent developments in Wad Madani city and the increasing need for food assistance for the affected families.

The shipments of essential food items, inaugurated in the presence of ambassador al-Sada, were directed to the affected, the IDPs, and the most vulnerable groups in the new states. A total of 4,000 food packages were allocated for the Northern State, and 2,000 each for the Kassala State and the Red Sea State. Each food package contains 40kg of essential food items, sufficient for a family of six for a month.

The total beneficiaries of the food aid shipments for the affected families in Kassala, Northern, and Red Sea states are 48,000, while the overall number of beneficiaries from the 50,000 food package provision project, funded by QFFD and implemented by QC for the benefit of the affected families in Sudan, is 300,000. DOHA

View original: https://www.gulf-times.com/article/675051/qatar/qatar-charity-provides-new-food-aid-to-war-affected-families-in-sudan

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Sudan Situation Overview OCHA 28 Dec 2023: Clashes in Wad Medani between SAF and RSF

From UN OCHA SUDAN

Flash Update No: 05

Dated Thursday, 28 December 2023 - here is a copy in full:

Clashes in Wad Medani between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF)

SITUATION OVERVIEW

More than 250,000 – 300,000 people have fled Aj Jazirah State following the clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) around Wad Madani, the capital of Aj Jazirah State, according to the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). Fighting broke out in the morning of 15 December between the SAF and the RSF in the outskirts of Wad Medani, 136 km southeast of the national capital Khartoum. On December 18, RSF reportedly entered Wad Medani town and by December 19 took control of the city.

There are reports of displaced people from Wad Medani and other parts of Aj Jazirah State arriving in Gedaref, Kassala, Red Sea, Sennar and White Nile states. Mobile network and internet connectivity challenges in parts of Aj Jazirah, White Nile and other adjacent areas are making it difficult for partners to collate information on the latest numbers of people displaced and their immediate needs. The number of displaced people by destination and hosting location will be available once the numbers are registered and verified.

Many IDPs reportedly arrived at the existing IDP gathering sites (collective centers) in and around Gedaref and Sennar. The majority sought shelter within the host communities, and local authorities and partners in Gedaref estimate that about 15,000 people have sought shelter with the host communities in Gedaref town, the capital of Gedaref State.

In Red Sea State, the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) has reported that on 25 September an estimated 3,000 IDPs from Wad Medani arrived in Port Sudan, and another 980 on 26 December, with more IDPs expected in the coming days. The Red Sea State Committee on displacement and relief issues identified nine new sites at Al Souk al Shabi – mainly schools - to receive the newly displaced people. HAC reported an urgent need for shelter, food and non-food supplies for the newly arriving IDPs. Some of the new IDPs are living with host communities in the city.

Humanitarian response
Host communities in the localities receiving IDPs from Wad Medani are responding to meet the basic needs of the arriving IDPs. Site Management Cluster partners are closely coordinating with local authorities in Gedaref, where authorities have activated a daily emergency cell meeting to monitor the situation and ensure preparedness for increased arrivals to the town centre. Humanitarian partners in Gedaref have come forward with responses across WASH, Health, Protection and Food assistance to the IDPs once the relocation site is finalised and the IDPs start arriving on site. An inter-sectoral rapid needs assessment (ISRNA) is proposed in Gedaref among the communities displaced from Aj Jazirah. The local authorities are supporting the ISRNA, which would help the humanitarian actors to mobilise resources for the response. ISRNA will commence once the list of IDP gathering sites has been finalised by the authorities in Gedaref.

In Kassala, about 3,000 new IDPs from Aj Jazirah’s Medani Al Kubra locality, Hantoub administrative unit received high energy biscuits and Ready-to-use Supplementary Food (RUSF) for pregnant and lactating women and children from WFP as the initial food support for 4-5 days, with more comprehensive food and livelihoods assistance to come as the needs assessments are finalised and the numbers of the displaced people become available.

In Red Sea State, the Port Sudan Youth Initiative started providing ready meals with limited resources. The Red Sea Gathering Site Coordination Meeting on 27 December agreed to field an inter-agency assessment mission in the coming days to two IDP hosting locations in Port Sudan - Abdalla Nagi and Salalab Al Garbia.

In Sennar, HAC reported that about 1,770 displaced households arrived at various locations in Sennar and Sinja localities since the fighting started in Wad Medani. Humanitarian partners continue providing support to newly arrived IDPs from Aj Jazirah and also those from Khartoum.

The State Council for Child Welfare, in collaboration and with support from UNICEF, continues the registration of separated and unaccompanied children to provide services for them in all localities of Sennar State.

Child Development Foundation (CDF) and Save the Children (SCI) opened 10 child friendly spaces through the Council for Child Welfare in Sennar and Sinja localities with support from the Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) and UNICEF. UNICEF, through the Council of Child Welfare, provided clothes and personal aids to children living with disabilities.

With support from UNICEF, the Council of Child Welfare activated 10 community-based protection networks (CBPNs) in Sennar and Sinja localities to provide protection services to children in need and refer cases for protection support. CDF established a CBPN targeting 60 people in the Suki locality. Also, the Council formulated a Women and Children Protection Network Group to trace and follow up on the issues of children's and mothers' protection.

Earlier this week, IMC provided medical supplies for two months to five primary healthcare centers (three in Suki and two in Sinja localities), in addition to the ongoing mobile clinic in Karkoug, Sinja locality, serving IDPs from Khartoum and Aj Jazirah. IMC provided more than 1,300 medical consultations to the IDPs. It has also provided nutrition services to the IDPs through outpatient therapeutic programs (OTP) at five primary healthcare centres (PHCs). IMC distributed hygiene cholera kits to 880 IDPs in three IDP gathering sides in the Sennar locality. IMC continues to support the State Ministry of Health (SMoH) Rapid Response Team (RRT) staffing and logistical support for the RRT.

CDF conducted training sessions on gender-based violence (GBV) and psychosocial support for 30 people in Sinja and Suki localities and GBV prevention awareness raising sessions for 30 people in the Sinja locality. It also established a community compliant feedback mechanism in Sennar locality.

Relief International (RI) will deploy shortly two mobile clinics to support IDPs from Aj Jazirah. A RI team from Blue Nile plans to visit Sennar state with one ambulance and medical supplies for the mobile clinics on 28 December.

In Blue Nile, HAC reported that about 500 IDPs arrived in Ed Damazine and more displaced people may arrive in the coming days. About 460 people are sheltering at two schools in Ed Damazine town - 243 people at Nahda school and 216 IDPs at Arkaweet school. Human Appeal and other organizations have provided some assistance to the displaced people, including food for IDPs at Nahda school. 

Background
After years of protracted crisis, Sudan plunged into a conflict of alarming scale when fighting between SAF and RSF broke out initially in Khartoum on April 15, and quickly expanded to other areas across the country. Khartoum has been the site of heavy fighting, while severe violent clashes and heavy bombardments have also been reported in the greater Darfur and Kordofan regions. The hostilities have resulted in extensive damage to critical infrastructure and facilities, including water and healthcare, the collapse of banking and financial services, frequent interruptions to electricity supply and telecommunication services and widespread looting. Since the conflict broke out, humanitarian needs have increased and almost 25 million people now require assistance in Sudan. More than 6.8 million people have been forced to leave their homes for safety elsewhere.

An estimated 5.9 million people live in Aj Jazirah State, Sudan’s breadbasket, with 700,000 living in Wad Medani. More than 270,000 people in the town need humanitarian assistance. Since April 15, 2023, nearly 500,000 people have fled to Al Jazirah State, 86,400 of whom are in Wad Medani. About 1.9 million people are in crisis (IPC 3) and have above-level food security in the state, with 179,000 in Medani between October 2023 and February 2024, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). There is an ongoing cholera outbreak in Aj Jazirah and neighboring states. 57 humanitarian organizations work in the state, including 25 INGOs, 21 NNGOs and six UN agencies. So far this year humanitarian organizations have reached 730,000 people in Aj Jazirah with food assistance, WASH, health and other humanitarian interventions.

***

For more information, please contact: Alimbek Tashtankulov, Public Information Officer, OCHA Sudan, tashtankulov@un.org, Mob: +249 (0)912 160361

Download the Flash Update here

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