By Ebi Kesiena
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warns that conflict and acute hunger in Sudan will soon displace over 10 million people internally.
Mohammed Refaat, IOM’s chief of mission in Sudan described the situation as a “catastrophic human tragedy,” noting that families have been torn apart and communities devastated.
Speaking from Port Sudan on Friday, he emphasized the urgency of the crisis, which has profoundly affected millions of Sudanese.
The IOM reports that more than half of the 9.9 million displaced are women and over a quarter are children. Additionally, over 2 million people have fled to neighboring countries, mainly Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt.
Before the conflict between Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces erupted in April 2023, displacement was mainly in Darfur and Kordofan. Now, it has spread across all 18 states, with 36% from the capital, Khartoum.
Seventy percent of the displaced are in areas at risk of famine, especially in Darfur, where humanitarian access is severely restricted. In North Darfur’s capital, Al Fasher, fighting has endangered over 800,000 civilians, with blocked roads limiting food and aid delivery.
The Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Program have identified Sudan as a top “hunger hotspot” along with Mali, Palestine, and South Sudan, warning that 18 million people are acutely food insecure, including 3.6 million children.
Sudan, historically a major transit and destination country for migrants, is now experiencing unprecedented levels of conflict and displacement. Time is running out to prevent a famine and save lives as the lean season approaches.
