Half of Sudan’s population needs help and protection

Today, Sunday, the tripartite mechanism consisting of the United Nations, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) confirmed that about half of Sudan’s population needs humanitarian assistance and protection.

The mechanism added, in a statement published by the UN mission in Sudan, that it is necessary to deliver aid to millions of needy people, as the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces enters its third month.

1.7 million displaced persons and 500 thousand refugees

It also indicated that about 1.7 million people have been displaced within Sudan, while nearly half a million people have sought refuge in neighboring countries, noting that “the increasing number of victims and injured people, along with the widespread destruction of property and livelihoods, is extremely worrying.”

It said it was “deeply saddened by the heavy toll on civilians as a result of the ongoing hostilities”.

“An ethnic dimension to the conflict in Darfur”

It also expressed concern about “the rapid deterioration of the situation in Darfur, where the conflict has taken on an ethnic dimension, which has led to attacks targeting people on the basis of their identities and the subsequent displacement of local communities.”

While stressing the “critical importance of all parties’ commitment to international humanitarian law,” she called on both sides of the conflict to comply with the Jeddah Declaration signed last May.

72-hour truce

It is noteworthy that the intensity of the aerial bombardment had increased in the last two days, before Saudi Arabia and the United States, the sponsors of the dialogue, announced that the two major military forces in Sudan had agreed on a new truce that would extend for 72 hours, in order to facilitate the passage of humanitarian aid.

2000 dead

The conflict, which erupted on April 15, killed more than 2,000 people, according to the latest figures from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). However, the actual numbers may be much higher, according to aid agencies and international organizations.

The battles have also forced more than 2.2 million people to flee, more than 528,000 of whom have sought refuge in neighboring countries, according to the International Organization for Migration.

While more than 149,000 people crossed into Chad on the border with the Darfur region, where the situation is of increasing concern, especially in El Geneina, the center of West Darfur state, one of the five states of the region.