Coup in Niger. Coup leaders want Wagner. UAE sends military vehicles to Chad. UK supports UAE at COP28

NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: Chad is a neighbour of Sudan and Niger. On 26 July Niger became the latest country in West Africa where the army has seized control, following Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Chad - all former French colonies.

Since 1990, 78% of the 27 coups in sub-Saharan Africa have occurred in Francophone states leading some commentators to ask whether France - or the legacy of French colonialism - is to blame?

Note, on 7 Feb 1992 France signed a bilateral treaty recognising Russia as a successor of the USSR. As described by Paris the bilateral relations between France and Russia remain longstanding, and remain strong to this day.

France controlled Chad from 1900 until the country's independence in 1960. France maintains an air force base at Chad's N'Djamena International Airport where it has launched humanitarian and counter-terrorism missions to the Central African Republic, Mali and Niger.

Russia's Wagner mercenary group is "taking advantage" of instability in Niger, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told BBC News today. The BBC report says "the country has been ruled by a junta following the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum nearly two weeks ago. There have been suggestions the coup leaders have asked for help from Wagner, which is known to be present in neighbouring Mali."

Image: Antony Blinken says the US is concerned about the Wagner group appearing in parts of the Sahel region. Image and caption credit: BBC report (Tue 8 Aug 2023, 20:09 GMT+1): Niger coup: Wagner taking advantage of instability - Antony Blinken

Also, the report says "both the US and France operate military bases in Niger as part of operations to disrupt jihadist groups operating in the wider region. Niger became the main base for French troops after they were told to leave Mali following a coup there. Wagner is believed to have thousands of fighters in countries including the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali, where it has lucrative business interests but also bolsters Russia's diplomatic and economic relations."

Meanwhile, as per the UAE's official news agency (WAM) report here below, the UAE has sent a shipment of military vehicles and security equipment to Chad, to support its capabilities in combatting terrorism and enhancing border protection.

WAM published some photos (see below) of several desert-coloured armoured vehicles, with the Emirati and Chadian flags draped over two of them. 

And, to add some more clarity (joke), here below is a report saying "UK supports UAE, looks forward for a strong participation and engagement with UAE at COP28, UK Ambassador tells WAM". 

Plus a report by Reuters explaining "Niger is among the world's biggest uranium producers", followed by a nuclear photo showing a mushroom cloud over Hiroshima after the dropping of the uranium-based atomic bomb nicknamed 'Little Boy', and a tweet on the Niger coup by Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret. (@stavridisj) August 6, 2023 saying: "Will this lead to a full-blown war in Africa? It certainly has the potential to do so, and would be a significant and devastating event." Read more.

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Report from The Economic Times - economictimes.indiatimes.com

By AFP (Agence France-Presse)
Published Monday 07 August 2023 - here is a full copy:

UAE sends military vehicles to Chad

Synopsis
Chad is a neighbour of Niger, where a coup late last month toppled one of the last pro-Western leaders in the jihadist-plagued Sahel region. The UAE's official news agency WAM included a photo of several desert-coloured armoured vehicles, with the Emirati and Chadian flags draped over two of them. Emirati firm NIMR manufactures the vehicles.

The United Arab Emirates has sent military vehicles and other security gear to Chad in support of anti-"terrorism" efforts and border protection, the oil-rich Gulf state said on Sunday.

Chad is a neighbour of Niger, where a coup late last month toppled one of the last pro-Western leaders in the jihadist-plagued Sahel region. 

The UAE's official news agency WAM included a photo of several desert-coloured armoured vehicles, with the Emirati and Chadian flags draped over two of them. Emirati firm NIMR manufactures the vehicles.

"The UAE has sent a shipment of military vehicles and security equipment to the Republic of Chad, to support its capabilities in combatting terrorism and enhancing border protection," WAM said, without providing details on the equipment.

WAM said the two countries had signed a military cooperation agreement in June during a visit by Chad's president, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, who has led the country since his father Idriss Deby Itno died from wounds battling rebels more than two years ago.

The military cooperation pact was one of several bilateral agreements signed between the two countries, WAM said. 

N'Djamena confirmed that it had "received armoured vehicles in the framework of military cooperation between Chad and the Emirates".

"This equipment allows us to strengthen our defence forces in the framework of the struggle against terrorism," Chad's Defence Minister Daoud Yaya Brahim told AFP.

The UAE, which has been developing its own defence industry, has also been increasing its engagement with African nations.

Military chiefs of the West African bloc ECOWAS have agreed on a plan for a possible intervention in response to the July 26 coup which toppled Niger's president Mohamed Bazoum.

Chad is not an ECOWAS member but a Chadian government spokesman told AFP on July 30 that Deby had gone to Niger "to see what he could bring to solving the crisis." 

View original: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/uae-sends-military-vehicles-to-chad/articleshow/102478011.cms

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Report at WAM (The Emirates News Agency) wam.ae/en

By Tariq Al Fahaam

Dated Sunday 06 August 2023, 10:33 AM - here is a full copy:

UAE provides Chad with military and security equipment to support counterterrorism efforts

ABU DHABI, 6th August, 2023 (WAM) -- The UAE has sent a shipment of military vehicles and security equipment to the Republic of Chad, to support its capabilities in combatting terrorism and enhancing border protection.

 

This initiative falls within the framework of the strong ties between the UAE and Chad at various levels, which have resulted in the signing of several bilateral agreements, including a military cooperation agreement in June during the official visit of Mahamat Idriss Deby, Chairman of Chad's Transitional Military Council, to Abu Dhabi.

Rashid Saeed Al Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Chad, delivered the supplies’ shipment to Lieutenant General Daoud Yahya Brahim, Chad’s Minister of Defence, in the presence of the Chief of the General Staff of the Chadian Army, the Chief of the Strategic Reserve Forces of the Chadian Army, and high-ranking Chadian military officials.

 

The Chadian Minister of Defence expressed his country’s appreciation for the UAE’s ongoing support, which will contribute to restoring peace and stability in the region, stressing that military cooperation plays a key role in enhancing security and efforts to overcome challenges.

View original: https://wam.ae/en/details/1395303184300

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Niger coup: Is France to blame for instability in West Africa?

IMAGE/CAPTION: "Goodbye France," reads a placard held by supporters of the [Niger] coup

Source: BBC News report 06 Aug 2023 'Niger coup: Is France to blame for instability in West Africa?'

...Niger has become the latest country in West Africa where the army has seized control, following Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Chad - all former French colonies. Since 1990, a striking 78% of the 27 coups in sub-Saharan Africa have occurred in Francophone states leading some commentators to ask whether France - or the legacy of French colonialism - is to blame? ...

View original: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66406137.amp

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Report at WAM (The Emirates News Agency) wam.ae/e

By Tariq Al Fahaam

Dated Sunday 6 August 2023, 11:18 AM - here is a full copy:

UK supports UAE, looks forward for a strong participation and engagement with UAE at COP28, UK Ambassador tells WAM

ABU DHABI, 6th August, 2023 (WAM) -- Edward Hobart, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the UAE, affirmed his country’s support for the UAE hosting of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) and UK’s active participation and engagement in the UN climate conference.

‘’In COP28, we think that the UAE is a great country to be hosting it, understands energy, has a long history in energy, has a long history in renewable and clean energy including nuclear. So, it has an example it has set and we need to bring more countries with us. But it's a huge challenge,’’ said Edward Hobart in an interview with Emirates News Agency (WAM).

He spoke about the UK’s vision of the importance of COP28 and its role in bringing about a quantum leap in global climate action as one of main areas of joint cooperation between the two countries.

On UK’s participation at COP28, Edward Hobart said:’’ There will be a very strong British participation at COP28. We've been strong contributors at all COPs up to the one that we chaired two years ago in Glasgow. So we'll have many of our leaders as well as British companies, British investors, British scientists and experts contributing to COP28.’’

The UK, he indicated, chaired COP two years ago in COP26 and I think every year this becomes more important. The climate emergency has to be addressed. So, we really have to focus on reducing emissions, increasing mitigations, helping countries adapt, and providing the financing to do all that, and this is a key part for COP28.

‘’It is a huge challenge for the world, for the UAE to lead that process and we want to do whatever we can to support it. To support it we need to increase renewable and clean energy, and as a target we'd like a bold target to maybe triple renewables by 2030. We have to reduce emissions, and just like the UAE has just published its own commitment to net zero, its refined commitment, we need countries around the world, the big emitters to put out what are called ‘NDCs’, (Nationally Determined Contributions) to reduce those emissions.

‘’ We have to phase out unabated fossil fuels, while at the same time providing alternative and energy sources. And we also need to address the countries which had been affected right now by climate change through development assistance. All of this requires a huge amount of finance. There's no reason why businesses can't get involved in investing private money in order to make money and be commercially driven by it, but we need to provide the right incentives,’’ he added.

On UAE-UK energy cooperation, the UK Ambassador said:’’ The UAE has been investing for over a decade in the UK in renewable energy and they are investors in major wind farms, offshore wind farms, the London Array, wind farms in Scotland, and floating high wind farms off the coast of Scotland. The UAE has also invested in battery storage in the UK, and the UK and the UAE have both invested in each other’s countries in hydrogen projects. So there's a lot of cooperation that we have together as well as in third countries where our businesses and governments work together to help other countries through their own energy transitions.’’

 

‘’The UAE has been a major player in renewable energy for a long time. Their offshore wind and battery head offices are actually in London. So they run their global operations on wind and batteries out of London because we have technology and investments that we share between the UK and the UAE. They have some really interesting investments, I mentioned hydrogen, BP and ADNOC invested in Teesside in the north east of England and here in Abu Dhabi, but also some really interesting innovations. So, Octopus Energy from the UK and Taqa from the UAE investing in Morocco in a British company called Xlinks with the ambition to bring solar and wind energy from Morocco to the UK - three and a half thousand kilometres of cable to do that. So some really important innovations. We intend to do the same hopefully in other parts of the world but we can help them through their energy transition.''

Regarding UAE-UK’s initiatives at COP28, the UK diplomat explained: ‘’Certainly, there will be bilateral initiatives I'm sure with the UAE, as well as UK initiatives on things like nature. We want to make sure that we bring a huge funding to nature based solutions because this is a flipside, is that part of the mitigation to the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is insuring that we have the right vegetation on the ground. So mangroves is a very important project that we work jointly on with Emirati organisations, developing and sustaining forests around the world and supporting indigenous groups of people that understand how to do that.’’

 

‘’As well as looking after small and developing states, whose very existence is threatened or who find themselves affected by severe climate change in terms of climate events like hurricanes in the Caribbean. So, nature-based solutions, how we protect those communities and those areas which had been most immediately affected by climate change is a really important additional area for the UK to work on with the UAE. I think we'll also work with the UAE on food security. We're hosting a conference in London on the 20th of November to help lead up to COP28 where there'll be a food security element there as well,’’ he concluded.

View original:  https://wam.ae/en/details/1395303184303

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Post script from Sudan Watch Editor: 

Some commentators online are asking what all the fuss is about regarding a coup in Niger. Here are some of the reasons, it's nuclear.

Report from Reuters

Reporting by Eric Onstad; Editing by Nick Macfie

Published Monday 31 July 2023, 7:04 AM GMT+1 - full copy:

Niger is among the world's biggest uranium producers

July 28 (Reuters) - Niger military officers said on Friday they had suspended the constitution and dissolved all institutions after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum. Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium, according to the World Nuclear Association (WNA).

The radioactive metal is the most widely used fuel for nuclear energy. It is also used in treating cancer, for naval propulsion, and in nuclear weapons.

Below are details of Niger's uranium deposits and mines:

PRODUCTION

Niger, which has Africa's highest-grade uranium ores, produced 2,020 metric tons of uranium in 2022, about 5% of world mining output, according to the WNA. This was down from 2,991 tons in 2020.

The world's three biggest producers are Kazakhstan, Canada and Namibia.

Niger has one major mining operation in the north operated by France's state-owned Orano, another major mine which closed in 2021, with one under development.

Orano said on Friday it was continuing mining despite ongoing "security events". French nuclear power plants source less than 10% of their uranium from Niger, Orano added

ARLIT MINING SITES

Several open pit mining sites are located near the city of Arlit, in the northwest, and operated by Somair, a joint venture of Orano and Niger's state-owned Sopamin.

AKOUTA MINE

This underground mine near Akokan, southwest oif Arlit, produced 75,000 metric tons of uranium from 1978 until March 2021, when it closed after its ore reserves had been depleted.

The mine was owned by Cominak, 59% owned by Orano, 31% by Sopamin and 10% by Spain's state-owned Enusa.

IMOURAREN

This deposit about 50 miles south of Arlit contains one of the largest reserves in the world, according to Orano.

An operating mine permit was awarded in 2009, but work to bring the mine into operation was suspended in 2014 until uranium prices improve. 

Image: The Tamgak open air uranium mine is seen at Areva's Somair uranium mining facility in Arlit, Niger, September 25, 2013. REUTERS/Joe Penney/File Photo.

View original: 

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/uranium-mines-niger-worlds-7th-biggest-producer-2023-07-28/

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The mushroom cloud over Hiroshima after the dropping of the uranium-based atomic bomb nicknamed 'Little Boy'. Read more at Wikipedia.

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Will this lead to a full-blown war in Africa? It certainly has the potential to do so, and would be a significant and devastating event. https://t.co/KFr8YKEB7T

— Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret. (@stavridisj) August 6, 2023

[Ends]

Civilian coalition focused on Sudan’s democratic transition in connection with an end to the fighting

HERE is a copy of a tweet by US Ambassador to Sudan John Godfrey @USAMBSudan posted 1 Aug 2023 2:28 pm. It says: "Useful meetings yesterday in Cairo with representatives from Sudanese civil society, political coalitions and parties to discuss their efforts to form a broadly representative, inclusive and robust civilian coalition focused on restoring Sudan’s democratic transition in connection with an end to the fighting."

Useful meetings yesterday in Cairo with representatives from Sudanese civil society, political coalitions and parties to discuss their efforts to form a broadly representative, inclusive and robust civilian coalition focused on restoring Sudan’s democratic transition in…

— John Godfrey (@USAMBSudan) August 1, 2023

HERE is a copy of Mr Godfrey's previous tweet posted 31 Jul 2023 9:31 pm. It says: "Welcomed the opportunity to visit Egypt to consult with partners on efforts to stop the fighting in Sudan, and to meet in Cairo with a group of Embassy Khartoum locally-engaged staff. Thank you to Egypt for its efforts, including on behalf of Sudanese fleeing the fighting in their country."

Welcomed the opportunity to visit Egypt to consult with partners on efforts to stop the fighting in Sudan, and to meet in Cairo with a group of Embassy Khartoum locally-engaged staff. Thank you to Egypt for its efforts, including on behalf of Sudanese fleeing the fighting in…

— John Godfrey (@USAMBSudan) July 31, 2023

[Ends] 

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HERE is a full copy of a report by Sudan Tribune - sudantribune.com

Published Saturday 05 August 2023

Sudan’s FFC hold consultations with various forces for broad civilian front

August 5, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) have postponed the announcement of their new roadmap to resolve the Sudanese crisis as they consult with additional political parties and armed groups to establish a broad civil front, except the dissolved National Congress Party (NCP).

A member of the FFC Executive Council reiterated that the coalition adopted a new plan to end the ongoing armed conflict and restore a civilian government in Sudan. The move confirms implicitly the abandonment of the Political Framework Agreement of December 5, 2022.

Speaking on a Twitter platform on Saturday, Hassan disclosed that meetings on building an expanded civil front have already commenced with several organizations and national parties.

He emphasized that anyone opposing the war in Sudan is a crucial part of this civil front, but the dissolved party of the former regime cannot be part of the future solution.

The coalition believes that delaying the release of the FFC’s vision will enable further consultation with other civil and political national forces, contributing to the establishment of the civil front.

Last week, Yasir Arman, a prominent member of the pro-democracy alliance, criticized the African Union’s plans to include the banned NCP of Omer al-Bashir in an intra-Sudanese meeting they plan to hold in Addis Ababa on August 25.

Various regional and international plans to resolve the political crisis in Sudan propose halting the fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as well as facilitating a national conference to discuss the democratic transition and the formation of a civilian government.

The FFC spokesperson stated that contacts with the Arab Socialist Baath Party had not ceased even before the outbreak of the war. Additionally, they reached out to the Communist Party and several civil and political forces, along with armed groups, in order to unite the civil front and halt the war.

The FFC official expressed hope that these efforts would yield tangible results soon.

Emphasizing the urgency, Hassan stressed that a permanent ceasefire is a top priority, as it would allow citizens to return to their homes and facilitate humanitarian aid and reconstruction.

Some armed groups including the SLM of Minni Minnawi and the JEM of Girbil Ibrahim refused to join the framework agreement saying they cannot accept to be under a new coalition controlled by the FFC groups.

Image: FFC Spokesman Gaffar Hassan (L) speaks to Sudanese lawyers in Khartoum on January 25, 2023

View original: https://sudantribune.com/article275811/ 

Related report

Sudan Tribune - Mon 7 Aug 2023

Neighbouring countries craft plan for ending Sudan’s ongoing conflict

In a meeting held in N’Djamena, the foreign ministers of Sudan’s neighbouring countries on Monday gave their endorsement to a comprehensive plan aimed at bringing an end to the four-month-long conflict within the country. 

The two-day gathering of foreign ministers had been convened following a summit of Sudan’s neighbouring leaders last month in Cairo.

Full story: https://sudantribune.com/article275890/

[Ends]

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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