Sudan’s Exodus: our Regional humanitarian response

In response to Sudan’s escalating conflict, INTERSOS has crafted a policy paper addressing critical challenges, calling for prompt international assistance to the millions displaced and sharing the humanitarian efforts carried out across neighbouring countries.

After over a year of conflict, Sudan has become the world’s largest and most complex displacement crises. Continued violence within the country has resulted in a staggering toll: according to UN data, between April 2023 and June 2024, approximately 9.4 million people have been displaced from their homes, with 7.26 million displaced internally and 2.17 million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.

INTERSOS runs humanitarian programmes in four states neighbouring Sudan: Libya, Chad, CAR, and South Sudan. The policy paper highlights the needs of the displaced population, the humanitarian assistance challenges, as well as INTERSOS humanitarian response to the  needs of the displaced population in neighbouring countries. Finally, the paper highlights key recommendations to address the current crisis both inside and outside Sudan.

The situation in Sudan

Since April 2023, Sudan has been the battleground of a devastating conflict between the Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces, resulting in widespread violence and claiming over 15,500 lives. This crisis has left approximately half of Sudan’s population -around 25 million people- in urgent need of humanitarian aid and protection, with over 18 million facing severe food insecurity and nearly 4 million children suffering from acute malnutrition. 

Similar figures not only show that we are clearly facing one of the greatest humanitarian crises in recent decades, but they also highlight the critical need for urgent and robust international humanitarian assistance to address the escalating crisis and alleviate the suffering of affected populations.

The prolonged conflict has also had additional repercussions outside its borders. Upon reaching neighbouring countries, Sudanese refugees often arrive in areas characterised by widespread poverty or that have experienced instability and conflict. This influx creates a great deal of difficulties for host countries that are already trying to meet their own humanitarian requirements and that are now under immense pressure to provide basic services to the vulnerable refugees and returnees.

INTERSOS experience in Sudan’s neighbouring countries

The needs of displaced persons are enormous. INTERSOS staff working in support of people in need have observed a myriad of challenges affecting refugees, returnees and host communities. Varying from country to country, refugees and returnees in Sudan’s neighbouring countries require essential items such as food and shelter, as well as protection services, healthcare, non-food items, education for children, among other needs. 

Since the start of the conflict, INTERSOS has provided assistance to thousands of Sudanese refugees and returnees fleeing violence. 

In Chad, in partnership with the UNHCR, we have built a refugee camp in Zabout for 60,000 refugees and we are currently building new emergency shelters in Kerfi camp, as well as providing essential protection services in the camps.

In South Sudan, we have been offering protection services and material aid in transit centres and border areas in order to address the urgent needs of vulnerable refugees and returnees.

In the Central African Republic (CAR) we are assisting Sudanese refugees and returnees, with a specific focus on supporting children facing significant protection risks, including family separation, child abuse, sexual and gender-based violence, and recruitment by armed groups.

In Libya we provide protection services to the Sudanese refugee communities, also offering non-formal education and in-kind assistance to children, and conducting outreach activities to newly arrived Sudanese refugees in unofficial settlements.

Recommendations

After more than one year of conflict, the situation for civilians, refugees and returnees in both Sudan and neighbouring countries is worsening day after day. As the crisis continues to unfold, it is imperative that immediate action is taken in order to assist those most in need, not only within Sudan but also across neighbouring nations. 

For these reasons, urging all parties to the conflict in Sudan for an immediate ceasefire is crucial to addressing the root causes of displacement. Our recommendations also focus on the role of hosting countries in fostering and supporting dialogue between displaced individuals and host communities. In order to support the thousands displaced in Sudan’s neighbouring countries, we also urge donors to honour the pledging commitments they made in May in Paris and call on humanitarian and UN leadership to expand advocacy efforts, raising awareness of the Sudanese displacement crisis and advocating for improved humanitarian access in both Sudan and its neighbouring regions.

Download the Policy Paper to consult the full list of recommendations.