Families fleeing in Sudan: Understand why in 5 minutes
Since April 15th 2023, escalating violence in Sudan has displaced millions of people and greatly increased the need for humanitarian aid and protection. Understand the crisis in 5 minutes.
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Armed attacks, including with heavy artillery, have marked the daily lives of thousands of Sudanese civilians since the conflict broke out between two paramilitary groups on April 15 this year. This is the capital Khartoum, where a timber warehouse has caught fire after intense fighting.
AFP
1 - Where is Sudan located?
Most displaced people have fled within Sudan's borders. However, the neighboring countries of Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Egypt and Ethiopia are all currently receiving a rapidly growing number of refugees from Sudan.
2 - What is the problem in Sudan?
Since 15 April 2023, hundreds of Sudanese people have lost their lives and thousands have been injured by violence caused by fighting between two armed groups, the SAF and RSF. The escalating violence in Sudan has disastrous consequences for the civilian population and has created a dire humanitarian situation.
Millions of people, mainly women and children, have been forced to flee. Most have sought refuge within the country's borders, while others have managed to get out of Sudan to places such as Chad, CAR or South Sudan.
Meanwhile, millions of people have no means of escape at all, despite great risk of attacks and lack of basic necessities such as food and water.
Urgent need for help after devastating attacks
According to the UN, recent fighting in West Darfur state has included heavy artillery, indiscriminate gunfire in residential areas, and attacks on health facilities. In the city of Geneina, up to 100 shelters have been burned to the ground, and shops and utilities are either actively being destroyed or out of service.
AP Photo/Sam Mednick
3 - What is causing the crisis in Sudan?
In 2019, long-time authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir was overthrown, bringing new hope for democracy. However, two years later, a military coup dissolved the civilian transitional government, sparking political and economic turmoil and reigniting conflict between armed forces in the West Darfur region and Blue Nile and Kordofan states.
On April 15 this year, fighting broke out between two armed factions, SAF and RSF, and thousands of men, women and children have since been caught in the crossfire.
The fighting comes at a time when the Sudanese population is already suffering from instability and climate change. Extreme weather such as floods and droughts have affected hundreds of thousands of people across the country in recent years, destroying crops and making survival increasingly difficult.
DRC
"The families' food, water and fuel supplies are dwindling and they are looking for safety and help. We are doing everything we can to provide humanitarian support wherever they go."
Davina Jeffery, DRC Sudan Country Director
4 - What is DRC doing?
Based on our strong operational presence, DRC is committed to responding to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and neighboring countries, including South Sudan, Ethiopia, CAR and Chad.
We are therefore scaling up our efforts across the region as a result of the crisis. In parts of southeastern Sudan, we are providing life-saving relief and protection to displaced families and host communities.
In South Sudan, we have deployed mobile relief teams near the border to quickly respond and provide critical life-saving assistance to newly arrived refugees fleeing Sudan - including a large number of South Sudanese refugees who have been forced to return to their home country as a result of the outbreak of conflict in Sudan.
Emergency and long-term interventions
Right now, we are focusing on providing urgent life-saving support to the many people inside and outside Sudan who are homeless and already suffering in harsh living conditions. Among other things, we distribute tents for temporary shelter and provide cash grants to help families buy food and other necessities.
As soon as conditions allow, we will launch recovery efforts and other durable solutions, including support for families to get back on their feet and create a livelihood.
DRC
5 - What can I do?
You can help by supporting our crisis response. With your support, we can provide shelter and protection to families fleeing armed attacks in Sudan. The families have left their homes very suddenly and are in need of food, water and shelter.
We are scaling up our efforts in Sudan and neighboring countries, but right now the needs exceed our capacity. Any contribution will help save lives. To support our work, please see below to make a donation. Thank you!
