Sudan: World's largest humanitarian crisis in terms of displacement. 12.7m forcibly displaced. 25m in famine

Presser | United Nations 
Friday, 11 April 2025 - full copy:

Sudan: World's largest humanitarian crisis in terms of displacement

Press Conference by Shaun Hughes, World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Emergency Coordinator for the Sudan Crisis, on the situation in Sudan.

Senior World Food Programme (WFP) official in Sudan Shaun Hughes said, “By any metric, this is the world's largest humanitarian crisis in terms of displacement,” adding that “four out of every five people displaced are women and children.”

Hughes briefed reporters remotely from Nairobi today (10 Apr) on the situation in Sudan.

He said, “12.7 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Over eight million people displaced internally, and four million across borders arriving to countries that are already facing high levels of hunger and humanitarian needs.”

In terms of hunger, the WFP official said, “this is the only place in the world where famine is currently confirmed, and only the third famine to be classified this century.”

Hughes continued, “The scale of what is unfolding in Sudan threatens to dwarf much of what we've seen over previous decades. In the Zamzam camp alone, which has been under siege for several months. There are over 400,000 people.”

The Regional Emergency Coordinator added, “Across the country, nearly 25 million people, or half the population, face extreme hunger. Nearly five million children and mothers are acutely malnourished.”

“This is a man-made crisis, man-made because it is driven by conflict, not by drought or floods or earthquakes, and man-made because of the obstruction of access to humanitarian assistance by parties to the conflict,” the WFP official stressed.

Hughes highlighted that WFP’s goal is to scale up to reach seven million people by mid-year, “focusing primarily on those 27 areas that are classified as in famine or risk of famine.”

He continued, “we need to be able to quickly move humanitarian assistance to where it is needed, including through frontlines, across borders, within contested areas, and without lengthy bureaucratic processes.”

“We need to re-establish offices and staff presence across all areas of the country, including the Darfur and Kordofan states, so that we can be close to the people we serve and monitor assistance and the situation as it unfolds. We need to be able to obtain visas for staff and custom clearances for goods and equipment,” the WFP official added.

He stressed that humanitarian agencies alone don't have the influence to negotiate this, “it requires the world to pay attention and coherent and tenacious engagement from the international community, particularly countries that have influence on those waging war.”

The Regional Emergency Coordinator for Sudan Crisis, World Food Programme (WFP):

For the next six months in Sudan, in order to reach the objective of assisting seven million people, WFP has an 80 percent funding gap amounting to $650 million and another $150 million shortfall to take care of people that are fleeing across borders into Chad, into South Sudan, into the Central African Republic and elsewhere.

“Without funding, we're faced with the choice to either cut the number of people receiving assistance, or to cut the amount of assistance that people receive,” Hughes said.

He explained that the cut is already happening. “This month, we've reduced rations in famine areas to 70 percent of what people need, and in areas that are at risk of famine to 50 percent. The funding we need is not only for food assistance, but also for the joint services that we provide to the broader humanitarian response, including humanitarian air services and logistics services,” Hughes said.

Asked about the funding gap, the WFP official said, “none can be attributed to the broader cuts in US foreign assistance. Fortunately, all allocations that the US government has made to Sudan remain effective, for which we are grateful.”

“I think more broadly that the outlook globally for funding of humanitarian assistance is quite disastrous due to a number of changes in the approach by donors,” he concluded.

Transcript

Follow along using the transcript at video: https://youtu.be/UwQIXSImTGs

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One in three Sudanese are displaced, one in six internally displaced persons globally are from Sudan

Press Conference | United Nations

Monday, 14 April 2025 - full copy:

Sudan: Massive violation of Human Rights 

A UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) official said that one in three Sudanese are displaced, and one in six internally displaced persons globally come from Sudan.

UNHCR’s Regional Director for East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes Mamadou Dian Balde spoke to reporters today (14 Apr) via video link, on the humanitarian needs inside Sudan and in neighboring countries, as one of the largest displacement crises globally with nearly 13 million people forcibly displaced.

Balde said, “Countries have been hosting refugees. Regional countries, neighboring countries have not closed their borders. They've been receiving the refugees.”

“Communities that don't have enough have shared what they have. And that's really the true spirit of solidarity. And this is what we see happening in the region,” he highlighted

The UNHCR official also said, “as we speak today, over 70,000 have reached Uganda. Uganda has problem of its own, and Uganda has thankfully opened and kept these borders open despite receiving 1.8 million refugees as we speak, they have added to that 70,000 Sudanese refugees and, Libya over 200,000.”

Balde also stressed that only 10 percent of the Regional Refugee Response plan is currently funded.

He called for the support for the 111 partners who are part of the Plan.

The UNHCR official thanked the various partners who have contributed, stressing that however with only 10 per cent of the plan funded reaching the fifth month of the year, “the level of support to have food, to have water, to have protection services, education, shelter, housing, this level of support is going to be extremely, extremely low.”

Balde explained that request of the Regional Refugee Response plan is 1.8 billion US dollars to be able to serve 4.9 million refugees and immediate hosts in neighboring countries.

He added that the 111 partners that are coordinate aid, a third of them are national partners, “people who are closer to the realities, in addition to international NGOs as well as national NGOs and the UN organizations,” the UNHCR official said.

Balde reiterated the need for ceasefire stressing that us that the Sudanese refugees want “a normalcy so that they can return home and take care of themselves.”

Transcript

Follow along using the transcript at video: https://youtu.be/oPAQ8yRx9Z0

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US freezes nearly all foreign assistance worldwide. UK announces £20m in additional funding to Sudan

SUDAN must not be forgotten said UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

"Refugees fleeing war-torn Sudan will receive further UK support to increase food production and lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services, as Foreign Secretary announces £20 million in additional funding while visiting the Adré on the Chad-Sudan border.

This builds on the doubling of UK aid in November to address the humanitarian emergency in Sudan to £226.5 million. These UK funds are providing emergency food assistance to nearly 800,000 displaced people, of whom over 88% are women and children, as well as improving access to shelter, drinking water, emergency health care and education.

Meanwhile, US freezes nearly all foreign assistance worldwide, effective immediately, days after President Donald J Trump issued a sweeping executive order Monday to put a hold on such aid for 90 days. The new orders specifically exempted emergency food programs, such as those helping to feed millions in a widening famine in warring Sudan.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 

“Sudanese people are facing violence on an unimaginable scale. This is the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world.

“Millions have already fled their homes – in the face of a struggle for power that has led to abhorrent atrocities against civilians and famine on an unconscionable scale. 

“The international community must wake up and act urgently to avoid this horrific death toll escalating further in the coming months, driving instability and irregular migration into Europe and the UK. Under this government’s Plan for Change, we are addressing upstream drivers of migration to secure UK borders.

“The UK will not let Sudan be forgotten. To do so would be unforgivable.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy meets Sudanese refugees in the border town of Adré, Chad. Crown copyright.

Meanwhile, the US has frozen nearly all foreign assistance worldwide, effective immediately, days after President Donald Trump issued a sweeping executive order Monday to put a hold on such aid for 90 days. 

It is the policy of United States that no further United States foreign assistance shall be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States. Exempted are emergency food programs, such as those helping to feed millions in a widening famine in warring Sudan.

Full story:

UK Gov Press Release from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP 25 January 2025 “Sudan must not be forgotten - David Lammy announces political and humanitarian action to address "catastrophe" in Sudan

 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sudan-must-not-be-forgotten-david-lammy-announces-political-and-humanitarian-action-to-address-catastrophe-in-sudan

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US Gov Executive Order from The White House 20 January 2025 - REEVALUATING AND REALIGNING UNITED STATES FOREIGN AID

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/reevaluating-and-realigning-united-states-foreign-aid/

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Associated Press report 25 January 2025 - "The US State Department ordered a sweeping freeze Friday on new funding for almost all US foreign assistance, making exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s order, delivered in a cable sent to US embassies worldwide, specifically exempted emergency food programs, such as those helping to feed millions in a widening famine in warring Sudan."

https://apnews.com/article/state-department-trump-foreign-aid-bf047e17ef64cb42a1a1b7fdf05caffa

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Church leader’s Christmas message “to all Sudanese in and outside Sudan” especially refugees & displaced

Rafaat Mosad, the president of the Council of the Evangelical Community in Sudan, sent a Christmas message yesterday “to all Sudanese in and outside Sudan”, with special mention of refugees and displaced peoples. Read more.

From Radio Dabanga - dabangasudan.org
Dated Tuesday, 26 December 2023 - here is a copy in full:

Church leader’s Christmas message to Sudan’s Christians

'King David of Makuria', one of the early Christian (circa 13th Century) paintings found in Old Dongola, called Tungul in Old Nubian (Photo PCMA UW) (See below)*

Rafaat Mosad, the president of the Council of the Evangelical Community in Sudan, sent a Christmas message yesterday “to all Sudanese in and outside Sudan”, with special mention of refugees and displaced peoples.

In his message, Mosad wished “love, peace and abundant mercy” to all, wishing a good year on the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. He expressed his hopes that this Christmas will be the last one in which Sudan will witness war and conflict.

“We thank God for every church that celebrated Christmas within Khartoum and across Sudan despite the nation’s pain, as they eased the people and all those who suffer in the country by celebrating them.”

He also thanked every evangelical church and school which opened its doors to the displaced in Sudan, and “shared with them a simple bite and simple joys, shared and endured their pain”. He urged the churches and their members to “continue to do good”.

“To all the displaced, refugees and dispersed: God is with you and will not forget you.” He prayed for God’s “peace, patience, mercy and intervention to stop the fighting and conflicts in our country”.

The priest thanked God for “everyone who did not give in to despair, did not give in to death, did not give in to all frustration, and still clings to the God of hope, and put his hope on a better tomorrow because God exists and has not forgotten him”.

During the reign of Islamic dictator Omar Al Bashir (1989-2019), non-Muslims were regularly oppressed. Christian worshipers were prevented to visit churches on Sundays, and a number of church buildings, many of them belonging to the poor Church of Sudan, were demolished. Since 2017, Christian schools were forced to follow the Muslim week calendar from Sunday to Thursday.

One of the first decisions made by the then Transitional Military Council after the ousting of Al Bashi, concerned the permission to enjoy Sunday as the official weekend recess day for Christian schools throughout Sudan.

* Archaeologists from the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (PCMA UW), have made stunning discoveries in Old Dongola (Tungul) in Sudan’s Northern State. Announced in April, the Polish team discovered a complex of rooms made of sun-dried bricks, the interiors of which were covered with murals showing figural scenes of early Christian art.

View original: https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/church-leaders-christmas-message-to-sudans-christians

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UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator Sudan (Darfur) Toby Harward says vital aid needed in Darfur quickly

THIS copy of a Dec 20, 2023 post at X published by UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator Sudan (Darfur) Toby Harward @tobyharward says: "Latest clashes in El Fasher & Nyala, Darfur, result in more displacement with new refugees crossing into Chad, & Salamat/Habbaniya inter-communal conflict displacing more than 15,000 persons to Chad & CAR border areas. Um Dukhun already hosts more than 80,000 IDPs & refugees. Imperative that aid reaches this corner of Darfur quickly."

Latest clashes in #ElFasher & #Nyala, #Darfur, result in more displacement w/ new refugees crossing into Chad 🇹🇩 , & Salamat / Habbaniya inter-communal conflict displacing > 15,000 persons to Chad & CAR 🇨🇫 border areas. Um Dukhun already hosts > 80,000 IDPs & refugees. Imperative…

— Toby Harward | طوبي هارورد 🇺🇳 (@tobyharward) December 20, 2023

____________________________

Postscript from Sudan Watch Editor:

El Fasher is in North Darfur State. Nyala is in South Darfur State. Um Dukhun is in Central Darfur State. This map 'Darfur Conflict Zones and Refugee Camps' is undated. Central Darfur State is a state in south-western Sudan, and one of five comprising the Darfur region. It was created in January 2012 as a result of the ongoing peace process for the wider Darfur region. Its state capital is Zalingei. The state was formed from land that had been part of the states of West Darfur and South Darfur. Abeche is in Chad.

ENDS

Sudan: Sennar, where thousands of people fleeing Wad Madani have arrived, is a panicked city says NRC

#Sudan: @AhmedOmer, Communications Coordinator in Sudan describes the current situation in Sennar, where thousands of people fleeing Wad Madani have arrived. pic.twitter.com/yq2oftVm7G

— NRC East Africa and Yemen (@NRC_EAY) December 19, 2023

Transcript of sub-titles taken from the above audio clip:

Ahmed Omer’s voice 

Communications Coordinator at NRC [Norwegian Refugee Council] in Sudan 

"They are hungry, they are panicked, they are ill and the situation in the city is getting difficult. There is no fuel in the city even for the cars. That is why the transportation fees is increasing. There is no fuel. Even in the black market it is difficult to find and when you find it is more than 50,000 SDG per a gallon of petrol.

People here in Sennar, are trying to get in vehicles, whatever vehicle you find, you just jump on to it, particularly trucks, the pickup trucks and the bigger trucks. They jump on it. I saw this on the streets. They just jump. But for the families, for women and children, it’s really difficult. So they are trying to hire buses or to take buses. And buses are limited here. 

So what I’m seeing here right now in front of me are people on the streets, in the streets just carrying their luggages and walking, just people walking. It reminds me of Khartoum and what happened there when we saw people walking. When we saw the pictures of people walking, taking the luggages with them. So it’s a panicked city".

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Global Refugee Forum: 114m people are refugees or displaced, 90% of world's refugees are in 40 countries

"One hundred and fourteen million people – that's more than live in Egypt and almost as many as are in Japan – are refugees or displaced. Ninety percent of the world's refugees are in just 40 countries.  Seventy five percent of the world's refugees are being hosted by low and middle-income states, yet most financing goes to upper-middle income states. Just 4% of funding is going to countries of refugee origin. With these statistics ringing in our ears, the Global Refugee Forum began in Geneva". Read more.

From Anglican News
By Glen Ruffle

Dated 18 December 2023, 1:35 PM - here is a copy in full:

Anglicans at the Global Refugee Forum

The Anglican Communion’s Assistant Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, The Revd Glen Ruffle, recently attended the Global Refugee Forum. He writes:

One hundred and fourteen million people – that's more than live in Egypt and almost as many as are in Japan – are refugees or displaced. Ninety percent of the world's refugees are in just 40 countries.  Seventy five percent of the world's refugees are being hosted by low and middle-income states, yet most financing goes to upper-middle income states. Just 4% of funding is going to countries of refugee origin.

With these statistics ringing in our ears, the Global Refugee Forum began in Geneva.

Held over 13–15 December, with side-events and build-up events beforehand, the Global Refugee Forum was arranged by the UN's Refugee agency, UNHCR, which gathered the world's states, along with NGOs, churches, faith organisations, and refugees themselves, to discuss the situation and what can be done.

The number of wars across the world is at a decades-level high; climate change is destroying agricultural land; famine and drought is increasing. Unless we invest in addressing these root causes, the numbers of refugees will continue to increase dramatically. Many will lose 20 years of their lives in government processing and relocating before they can properly settle and move forwards.

The sad fact is that UNHCR is still waiting for $400 million of funding promised by the world's states, yet never delivered. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, still host to more than half a million Syrian refugees, has only received 23% of the money promised to help. States can also work smarter: investing in much-need conflict-prevention measures, rather than dealing reactively, and with much greater expense, with every new crisis.

Anglicans, and Christians more broadly, will continue helping refugees with or without state or UN involvement, but it was important to place on the UN map, and to make the world know, that the Anglican Communion's churches are out there, doing the work, and often doing so on minimal budgets without support.

Provinces from around the Anglican Communion contributed to making pledges of what we hope to do over the next four years. Canada pledged to help resettle refugees; Tanzania pledged to advocate for refugees and ensure they receive proper care and have access to things like Savings Groups to build a future. The Province of Alexandria's Diocese of Egypt pledged to give holistic care via Refuge Egypt to help with integration of the refugees flooding into Egypt. The Church of England's Diocese in Europe has numerous projects, led by local churches across the continent, ranging from supporting refugees and advocating for them in Calais through to the distribution of aid in Bucharest.

The Episcopal Church pledged to advocate for the goals of UNHCR, support refugee resettlement and continue its refugee care. And the wider Anglican Communion pledged to place the care of refugees on the agenda at high-level meetings, to make sure Provinces discuss what they are doing and look at collaboration, and also to support the mental health of refugee children and to help develop faith-sensitive care.

States need to turn their pledges into action, deliver the money they promised and invest more seriously in conflict prevention. Beyond that, we hope to see greater collaboration between states, UN agencies and faith groups already doing the work to enable more effective delivery of support to those most in need. People of faith are often those on the front lines responding to crises and have the local trust and influence to begin to identify and address root causes. Strengthening this collaboration will be a focus of our work in the years to come.

It is not too late to add pledges from the Anglican Communion. If you want to explore a pledge, contact glen.ruffle@anglicancommunion.org

 

View original: https://www.anglicannews.org/blogs/2023/12/anglicans-at-the-global-refugee-forum.aspx

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