SUDAN EMERGENCY
SUDAN EMERGENCY: INTERSOS INTERVENTION
Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has witnessed an escalation of internal tensions, in a scenario already characterized by economic, social, and political instability. Armed clashes between opposing military groups have led to a significant increase in violence in several cities, particularly in areas surrounding the capital, Khartoum, with devastating consequences for the civilian population. The primary concern of the population is to access food and water. Public infrastructure, such as the power grid, water supply, and hospitals, is frequently targeted by the conflicting parties.
The number of gender-based violence cases is rising, and attacks against villages are forcing people to leave their homes and seek refuge in safe places. According to UN Data, at the end of July 2023, 2,6 million people are internally displaced, while there are over 800,000 refugees in neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic, which are also facing humanitarian emergency conditions.
REFUGEES IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES
Chad, where we have been operating since 2016, has been affected for years by a severe humanitarian, characterized by deep-rooted food insecurity, influenced by climate change, which contributes to increased internal conflicts and widespread violence.
Currently, there are still one million people in need of humanitarian assistance and an equal number of internally displaced persons. Moreover, even before April 2023, there were 600,000 refugees in the country, including 400,000 Sudanese. In addition to this, another 140,000 people have recently arrived in the eastern areas of Chad, along the border with Sudan, in the past two months.
INTERSOS’ objective is to provide emergency shelter, clean water, latrines, and food. Simultaneously, it is necessary to offer healthcare, screening for malnutrition, and support for women who have survived gender-based violence. An increase in arrivals is expected in the coming weeks. Therefore, with the support of UNHCR, we have initiated the construction of a refugee camp close to the border area with Sudan. This shelter, which will be completed in five months, will accommodate approximately 40,000 refugees in 7,000 housing units.
The situation is also challenging in South Sudan, a country constantly affected by internal conflicts. Out of the 135,000 refugees who arrived in April from Sudan, 35,000 are “returnees,” meaning South Sudanese who had sought refuge in Sudan since 2011 – the year of independence declaration – and have now returned. Seventy-five percent of them are women and children. Many people have sought refuge in Malakal, where INTERSOS staff is providing child protection services and mapping human rights violations.
In the Central African Republic, around 15,000 refugees have arrived to date. The country was already in a complex humanitarian situation, with half of the population experiencing food insecurity. There are approximately 500,000 internally displaced Central Africans and another 750,000 refugees in neighboring countries, with nearly 24,000 being in Sudan. INTERSOS has been working in the country since 2014 to provide assistance to the Central African population and now to support the Sudanese refugees as well. Our staff is committed to ensuring safe access to water and providing psychosocial assistance, especially for women and children, in an area that is likely to be affected by floods in the coming weeks.
foto © René Van Beek per INTERSOS