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Sudan

Sudan: 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (December 2023) [EN/AR]

Attachments

Foreword by the Humanitarian Coordinator

Humanitarian needs across Sudan are at an all-time high. Following the October 2021 military take over, uncertainty remains as to how the democratic transition that began in 2019 may yet evolve. The signing of a political framework agreement on 5 December 2022 brings hope for a political settlement though it is not clear how it will impact the humanitarian current situation throughout the country. Conflict, disasters associated with natural hazards, disease outbreaks, and economic deterioration continue to plague Sudan, and against these risks, humanitarian needs continue to grow. These risks make vulnerable communities less resilient, while generating new and more severe humanitarian needs. In 2023, about 15.8 million people across the country are estimated to need humanitarian assistance. This marks the fourth year of record numbers of people in need and about 1.5 million people more than in 2022. According to recent assessments, 11 million people will need emergency assistance for life-threatening needs related to critical physical and mental well-being. The number of food-insecure people in 2022 increased by about 2 million compared to last year, to a staggering 11.7 million during the lean season. As of October 2022, more than 265,000 people were newly displaced as a result of localised conflict and insecurity across Sudan in 2022 and protection concerns persist. Floods affected about 349,000 people and the economy took further turns for the worse. Last year we predicted that despite the urgent and bold reforms that were undertaken by the transitional government with the firm support of international partners, it would take time before ordinary Sudanese would start feeling the tangible impacts of the changes. Since then, many of these achievements have been reversed and the population continues to suffer. In 2022 (as of September), humanitarian organizations assisted more than 9.1 million people in need, despite continued low levels of funding.

About 8.4 million people received food and livelihood assistance, 4.7 million people were able to access health services, and 3.6 million people were reached with Water, Sanitation and Hygine (WASH) services. In 2023, humanitarian partners plan to provide humanitarian assistance and support to 12.5 million of the most vulnerable people at the cost of US$1.7 billion. The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) will provide humanitarian assistance and support to the most vulnerable people in Sudan – internally displaced persons, people who have recently returned to their places of origin, refugees being hosted by Sudan and other vulnerable Sudanese groups. This plan, a collective effort of all humanitarian actors and stakeholders in the country, will address the specific needs of women, children, the disabled, and other vulnerable groups. The 2023 HRP will, as in previous years, prioritise multicluster, life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable. The plan also includes response readiness for recurring flooding, conflict, and disease outbreaks. Life-sustaining services will be prioritized, such as essential health services, prevention and treatment of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, access to education, livelihoods, water and sanitation services. Strict focus on life-saving, multi-cluster has kept the total financial requirement at the same level as last year despite an increase in both people in need and people targeted (1.5 million and 2 million respectively). We appreciate the generous support from donors and urge them to continue supporting humanitarian action in Sudan.

Khardiata Lo Ndiaye
Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General
Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator
14 December 2022

Foreword by the Humanitarian Aid Commissioner

Sudan is at a critical crossroad on its transition to peace, sustainable development and growth for all of its people. The coming year will be pivotal in strengthening governance and ensuring smooth preparations for the future where the aspirations of all Sudanese can be materialized and all parts of the society work together for a better future. Meanwhile, while the country has experienced unprecedented years of change in its transition, 12.5 million of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in Sudan are not able to have enough food, water, medicines, access to education and other basic services to continue their lives. Over the past years, the nature and scope of humanitarian needs changed considerably across the country. Today, there are millions of people who are acutely food insecure and cannot meet fully their food needs as the domestic economic crisis has been exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide economic challenges of high inflation, disruption of supply chains and recently the conflict in Ukraine. The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan has been devised and developed in collaboration with the United Nations and humanitarian partners to respond to the most critical humanitarian needs in Sudan. This plan is the result of the collective effort of key humanitarian actors and clusters in the country and aims to seek synergies with government strategies and priorities for addressing and reducing humanitarian needs. The plan will strive to ensure that the most vulnerable people – IDPs, both in protracted displacement and newly displaced ones, refugees from South Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries, vulnerable and food insecure host communities, and others – receive the humanitarian assistance and support that they need. The plan also puts a strong emphasis and focus on addressing the needs of women, children, the disabled, and other vulnerable groups in a dignified and gender-sensitive manner. The Government of Sudan has made several important and bold steps in tackling the root causes of vulnerabilities that render people in need of assistance, restoring peace, ensuring freedoms and jumpstarting economic growth for all Sudanese. However, the challenging economic situation and the changes that the country has been undergoing since 2018 have affected the implementation of many programmes and strategies. The Government of Sudan has the political will and dedication to tackle the drivers of humanitarian needs and ensure durable solutions for all those vulnerable people in need of those solutions. We are also fully aware that this is a process that will take years before we start seeing tangible results. And the support of the international community on this journey will be crucial and instrumental. I would like to thank the UN agencies, international NGOs, national NGOs, other humanitarian partners and organizations for providing millions of people across Sudan with food, health, nutrition, education, water and other assistance for many years. I would also like to thank the donor countries for their generous support and hope that they will continue generously supporting millions of vulnerable Sudanese and refugees across the country during these unprecedented times of change and transition.

Najmaldin Musa Abdul Karim
General Commissioner
Humanitarian Aid Commission
14 December 2022

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