The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned today of spiraling humanitarian needs for refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) in Sudan as living costs soar due to the impact of the war in Ukraine, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather conditions resulting from the climate crisis. Sudan hosts among the largest number of displaced people on the African continent, including over 1.1 million refugees – mostly from South Sudan – and 3.7 million internally displaced Sudanese, mainly in Darfur and Kordofan.
Steep increases in food and non-food prices and shortages of essential goods including bread and fuel are putting a strain on host communities, and disproportionately impacting the forcibly displaced, especially those without any financial support. UNHCR is working with partner organizations in Sudan to scale up its response, but efforts to provide lifesaving support to refugees and displaced Sudanese face immense strain because of acute underfunding. By Mid-September, the UN Refugee Agency had received just one-third of the US$348.9 million needed in 2022 to provide life-saving assistance and protection amidst the growing needs.
The UN agency warns limited support could leave many refugees and local communities without vital assistance, leaving them more prone to taking risks that could result in serious harm. Resource constraints mean most plans for emergency, transitional or durable shelters will not go ahead. Support for self-reliance and resilience will be affected. Two-thirds of protection monitoring work for internally displaced people will not take place, and other vital programs will need to be limited or cut. UNHCR is urging the international community to provide the funding needed by humanitarian organizations in Sudan, to support refugees, IDPs, and their host communities.
UNHCR says this year’s seasonal rains and floods are making life even harder for refugees and internally displaced people. Displaced communities are among the 349,000 people affected by heavy rains and flash floods, according to Sudanese authorities and humanitarian organizations on the ground. The rains and floods have submerged houses and farmlands, and killed livestock. For the people who have fled violence, the floods have created a crisis on top of a crisis. Communities with fewer resources, and less capacity to adapt to an increasingly inhospitable environment, are facing the worst impacts of extreme weather resulting from the climate crisis.
Due to the complex crisis in Sudan, nearly a third of the country’s population are in need of humanitarian assistance in 2022. The growing humanitarian needs in the country are driven by political instability following the military takeover on October 25, 2021, a socioeconomic crisis, insecurity and violence, displacements, floods, drought and disease outbreaks.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a United Nations agency mandated to assist and protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. The organization is known by its short name the UN Refugee Agency. UNHCR was established on December 14, 1950, by the United Nations General Assembly to provide assistance to refugees resulting from World War II. On January 1, 1951, UNHCR began its work. Each year, the UN Refugee Agency helps millions of refugees and displaced persons worldwide. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the UN agency maintains offices in 134 countries.
Further information
Full text: UNHCR warns of surging needs in Sudan amid skyrocketing prices and gaps in humanitarian funding, UNHCR briefing notes, released September 23, 2002
https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2022/9/632d73474/unhcr-warns-surging-needs-sudan-amid-skyrocketing-prices-gaps-humanitarian.html
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