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Sudan + 6 more

Sudan: Revised Humanitarian Response Plan 2023 (Revision issued on 17 May 2023) [EN/AR]

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Summary

This document revises the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Sudan, launched in December 2022, due to the escalating violence across the country since 15 April 2023. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused tremendous human suffering and exacerbated significant pre-existing humanitarian needs amongst the civilian population in Sudan, also affecting urban areas previously not or only marginally covered by the HRP.

The revised HRP updates the response strategy in the initial 2023 HRP, specifically regarding the scale-up of life-saving multisectoral assistance and protection services in line with HRP Strategic Objectives (SO) 1 and 2, including related to implementation approaches and costs. Programming related to SO 3 of the HRP (access to livelihood and basic services) will be paused and, depending on contextual developments, successively re-established within the scope initially foreseen in the HRP. Similarly, SO 4 will be resumed once the situation allows in the mid-term.

The revised HRP covers the period until 31 December 2023. Further updates may be required based on contextual developments.

Key figures

24.7M People in Need
+57% increase

18.1M People Targeted
+44% increase

2.6B Required
+47% increase

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

  1. Provide timely multi-cluster life-saving assistance to crisis affected people to reduce mortality and morbidity

  2. Mitigate protection risks and respond to protection needs through humanitarian action

Part 1:

Context and Humanitarian Needs

The situation in Sudan has significantly worsened since the last update on humanitarian needs was released in November 2022. Starting on 15 April 2023, fighting between the SAF and the RSF has killed hundreds of people, forced more than 218,000 to flee across borders and displaced over 730,000 people inside the country in the first four weeks of the conflict.

Sudan’s growing humanitarian crisis is set against the backdrop of a protracted economic crisis and pre-existing conflicts in some parts of the country, with an estimated third of the population already in need of humanitarian assistance. In addition to large-scale displacement, the conflict has shattered access to food, water, cash, fuel, health care and other basic services for millions of people. High insecurity and looting of humanitarian assets and offices has compromised humanitarian access to key locations.

Sudan is now facing violent urban warfare and civil unrest, a surge in criminality and communication breakdowns. The country is also grappling with severe water shortages caused by blackouts, fuel scarcity and lack of supplies. Fewer than 20 per cent of health facilities in Khartoum remain fully functional and 60 per cent are not operating, severely limiting access to urgent medical services for millions of people. These challenges are compounded by soaring prices for food, fuel, and other essential goods, as well as recurring disease outbreaks, pre-existing malnutrition, and acute food insecurity. In many locations with ongoing fighting, people are unable to leave their homes and seek assistance as transportation options extremely limited and expensive.

The number of people in need (PiN) of humanitarian assistance has increased from 15.8 million, estimated in November 2022, to 24.7 million in May 2023, representing a 57 per cent increase.

Ongoing fighting

Clashes between SAF and RSF have been ongoing since 15 April, particularly in and around residential areas in Khartoum. As of 13 May, the Federal Ministry of Health reports that at least 700 people have been killed and over 5,200 injured since the onset of the fighting. The number of casualties is likely to be higher, as many individuals were reportedly unable to reach hospitals due to movement constraints.

Approximately two-thirds of clashes between the SAF and RSF during the first weeks of fighting were in cities with populations exceeding 100,000. Neighbourhoods, critical buildings and essential infrastructure in Khartoum, have experienced devastating consequences, including the airport, presidential palace, ministries of defence, energy, education and health, and several hospitals. Fighting outside Khartoum has centred on urban areas along major roadways, including the eastwest corridors from Kassala to West Darfur.

Several cities have faced heavy bombardments and clashes, and associated unexploded ordnance, causing hundreds of civilian deaths and casualties, as well as damage to critical water, health care and power infrastructure. The fighting has also reached West Darfur, South Darfur, North Darfur, South Kordofan, North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Kassala and the Red Sea. Since 24 April, hostilities between SAF and RSF have ignited intercommunal violence in West Darfur, particularly in the state capital of Ag Geneina, resulting in numerous casualties and displacements, and widespread looting.

The indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure and the looting of homes are clear violations of International Humanitarian Law. Such acts undermine the principle of discrimination, which requires parties to a conflict to distinguish between combatants and civilians, and the principle of proportionality, which requires parties to refrain from attacks that may cause excessive harm to civilians. The widespread nature of these attacks and the resulting harm inflicted on civilians are a cause for grave concern.

Violations of IHL and International Human Rights Law are driving the humanitarian crisis. Complex and interconnected protection issues in this protracted crisis are worsening in the current context of limited access to humanitarian services, rights, justice, and accountability. Civilians in parts of the country remain exposed to ongoing and new hostilities, resulting in civilian casualties and forced displacements as people seek safety. Reinforcing IHL is essential to ensure that all parties to the conflict prioritize the protection of civilians and take measures to avoid or minimize harm during hostilities.

On 11 May 2023, SAF and RSF representatives signed a Declaration of Commitment to protect civilians and guarantee the safe passage of humanitarian aid in the country. in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Declaration aims to secure a commitment to protect civilians in Sudan, emphasizing adherence to international humanitarian and human rights law. The agreement focuses on enabling safe humanitarian assistance, restoring essential services, withdrawing armed forces from medical facilities and ensuring dignified burial practices. Despite the Declaration, reports of attacks continue and, on 12 May, violence further escalated in Ag Geneina.

Displacement

Widespread displacement has been reported across several states in the country. A recent outbreak of inter-communal conflict between the Masalit and Arabs in West Darfur has further exacerbated the crisis. Since 15 April, over 950,000 people have been displaced within Sudan or to neighboring countries. This number is projected to increase in the coming weeks.

An estimated 736,200 people have been displaced within Sudan, of which 368,000 are children. Approximately 68 per cent of the internally displaced population is from Khartoum state, with some fleeing to neighboring states and others seeking refuge within the state. The highest numbers of internally displaced people are in West Darfur, White Nile and Northern states. These new displacements are in addition to the almost 3.8 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), primarily concentrated in Darfur, prior to the new fighting.

An estimated 220,000 people have fled into neighbouring countries – notably to Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic. Those crossing borders include Sudanese refugees and refugees of other nationalities hosted by Sudan, including an estimated 82,000 children.

Before the current wave of fighting, Sudan hosted 1.14, million refugees from South Sudan, Chad, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Eritrea, and other nationalities. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that more than one million refugees in Sudan require humanitarian assistance.

Critical Needs and Response Challenges

In a region already significantly affected by conflict, insecurity, displacement and high levels of humanitarian needs, civilians have been caught in the crossfire of ongoing violence and face targeted attacks, including reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence. The sudden armed conflict has resulted in the killing and injury of civilians, as well as emotional and psychological distress for the affected people. The ongoing violence is also hindering families from organizing dignified burials.

to protection risks with immediate as well as longer-term harm to their physical and mental wellbeing. This includes an increased number of women, girls and at-risk groups10, who are exposed to risks of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). The deteriorating security situation is also limiting access to lifesaving GBV services, including GBV case management, clinical management of rape (CMR), psychosocial support and referrals. Safe spaces for women and girls, including to access lifesaving services and obtain referrals, also limit options for support.

Ongoing violence has caused extensive damage to infrastructure, leading to water shortages, blackouts, communication disruptions and incidents of looting.

Large sections of the capital, including factories, banks, shops and markets, have been looted, damaged, or targeted by rocket attacks. The central bank was set ablaze, and local commercial banks closed and ATMs not functioning, leaving people without access to cash and financial assets. Internet connectivity has been severely disrupted, operating at only 4 per cent capacity

Ongoing violence has caused extensive damage to infrastructure, leading to water shortages, blackouts, communication disruptions and incidents of looting. Large sections of the capital, including factories, banks, shops and markets, have been looted, damaged, or targeted by rocket attacks. The central bank was set ablaze, local commercial banks closed and ATMs are not functioning, leaving people without access to cash and financial assets. Internet connectivity has been severely disrupted, operating at only 4 per cent capacity.

Humanitarian programmes have been severely impacted by attacks and looting of humanitarian premises, which has included the killing and injury of humanitarian staff, alongside the destruction of infrastructure. Evacuations and relocations of humanitarian workers were carried out from key locations across Sudan, including Khartoum and Darfur, and some humanitarian programmes were temporary suspended.

The fighting has affected numerous hospitals,12 further compromising Sudan’s already fragile health sector. Since the start of the conflict, the World Health Organization (WHO) has verified 30 attacks on health care facilities, resulting in eight people killed and another 18 injured. A maternity hospital was attacked in Khartoum on 4 May. Power shortages, limited medical supplies, and infrastructure damage are severely hampering the delivery of essential health care. Critical medical supplies, including for managing pregnancy complications, are running dangerously low. In Khartoum alone, live-saving reproductive health for an estimated 219,000 pregnant women is threatened. Urgent assistance is required to restore critical emergency care, maternity support and paediatric treatment in North and South Darfur.

The health crisis is exacerbated by Sudan’s already high morbidity and mortality rates from vaccine-preventable communicable diseases and high levels of dengue in Khartoum in 2023. The national vaccination programme has been disrupted amidst an ongoing polio outbreak reported across the country before the crisis. Several cold chain facilities have been looted, damaged or destroyed, including the loss of over 600,000 vaccines intended for children.16 The bulk of the country’s vaccines stored in Karthoum's main cold chain facility remain at high risk of loss/damage due to unstable power supply and insecurity. The central medical store warehouse, which has several million dollars’ worth of medicines and medical supplies, is under the full control of one party to the conflict.

The nutrition crisis in Sudan is dire, with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reporting the highest rate of child malnutrition globally. Approximately 3 million children under age 5 are affected by malnutrition, including over 610,000 suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The suspension of aid has disrupted treatment programmes for 50,000 children suffering severe acute malnutrition, putting their lives at risk. In addition, a factory that was producing vital supplies for the treatment of malnourished children in Sudan has been burnt down, destroying supplies to treat 14,500 children. The factory produced 60 per cent of ready-to-use therapeutic food used by UNICEF to treat children with severe acute malnutrition, as well as ready-to-use supplementary food provided by World Food Program (WFP) for children with moderate acute malnutrition.

Food production, supply chain disruptions, fuel shortages, inflation and currency depreciation have led to shortages and price hikes, making essential goods unaffordable for many. Imported staples such as wheat flour, oil and tomato paste are scarce. WFP expects the number of acutely food insecure to increase to 19.1 million people in the next 3-6 months, if the conflict persists. The highest food insecurity levels are expected in West Darfur, West Kordofan, Blue Nile, Red Sea and North Darfur.

The destruction of critical infrastructure, including water systems and communications networks, is having devasting impacts across Sudan. Water shortages have been reported across Khartoum state, as urban water treatment plants remain non-functional. Water authorities continue to face ongoing access and security obstacles to repair the damage. As a result, more than a million people rely on unsafe drinking water from the River Nile, increasing the risk of water-borne disease and the need to undertake awareness raising around water quality and water safety practices.

Education has been severely affected, with schools and educational institutions remaining closed in conflict-affected areas, namely Khartoum, Aj Jazirah, South Darfur, West Darfur and West Kordofan. With approximately 6.9 million children not attending school before the conflict, the learning crisis has deepened with higher levels of risk of physical and mental threats, including recruitment into armed groups. As of 11 May, schools and educational institutions have started to reopen in areas not affected by hostilities, preparing for the final academic year examinations.

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