Catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan

United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths warned the Sudan was at “breaking point” and that the international body fears the war’s effect both on Sudan and the broader region.

More than 800,000 people may flee Sudan as a result of the ongoing conflict, the United Nations refugee agency has said, including Sudanese nationals and thousands of existing refugees living temporarily in the country.

“In consultation with all concerned governments and partners, we’ve arrived at a planning figure of 815,000 people that may flee into the seven neighbouring countries,” Raouf Mazou, UNHCR assistant high commissioner for refugees, told a member-state briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.

Some 73,000 have already left Sudan, he added. Mazou’s estimate includes approximately 580,000 Sudanese, while the others are refugees who had settled in the country for safety.

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi later said the planning figure was indicative. “We hope it doesn’t come to that, but if violence doesn’t stop we will see more people forced to flee Sudan seeking safety,” he said in a tweet.

The international body has said a catastrophic humanitarian situation has already been unfolding since the fighting that erupted on April 15.

Hundreds have been killed and thousands wounded in the clashes between Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Millions of Sudanese, unable to afford the inflated prices required to escape the battles, have sheltered in their homes with dwindling food and water and frequent power cuts.

The UN and other aid organisations have cut services, though the World Food Programme said it was resuming operations in more secure areas on Monday after staff were killed early in the war.

United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths warned the country was at “breaking point” and that the international body fears the war’s effect both on Sudan and the broader region.