Dominique Hyde, the Director of External Relations at UNHCR, stated that the sudden outbreak of war transformed once tranquil Sudanese households into graveyards.

Last week, she traveled to the country and observed an increase in the amount of human suffering.

“Behind the scenes and beyond the media coverage, the war in Sudan persists. Throughout the nation, an unfathomable humanitarian disaster is unfolding, with a growing number of individuals being uprooted by the ongoing conflict,” stated Ms. Hyde.

In Sudan, the conflict that started in April has caused 4.5 million individuals to be displaced within the country, and an additional 1.2 million, primarily women and girls, have sought refuge in neighboring nations such as Chad.

Repetition of brutal acts in Darfur

The representative from UNHCR brought attention to the circumstances in the unstable Darfur area, where conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to increased displacement. Thousands are struggling to find shelter, and many are forced to sleep under trees along the roadside.

She expressed deep worry regarding their lack of access to necessities such as food, shelter, clean drinking water, and other basic essentials.

“It’s disheartening to see that the atrocities from 20 years ago in Darfur are repeating themselves today with such minimal attention.”

In July, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) initiated a probe into reported acts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the area. This came after the uncovering of multiple mass graves containing the remains of approximately 87 individuals from the Masalit community, who were reportedly victims of violence carried out by the RSF and associated militia groups.

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Conditions in White Nile region:

Ms. Hyde discussed the circumstances in the White Nile state, where it is believed that over 433,000 people have been displaced and are currently living. This adds to the approximately 300,000 refugees, mainly from South Sudan, who have been seeking shelter in 10 camps in the state since before the war.

She stated that the sudden increase in displacement has put a strain on crucial services in the refugee camps. She also mentioned that, similar to other parts of Sudan, schools have been closed for the past seven months due to displaced individuals seeking refuge in classrooms.

The health crisis is extremely concerning as more than 1,200 children under the age of five have passed away in the province from mid-May to mid-September. This was caused by a measles outbreak and severe malnutrition. Sadly, at least four children are losing their lives each week due to a shortage of vital medications, staff and resources.

Ms. Hyde described seeing small burial sites made of mounds of earth in front of a refugee camp, where children who have passed away are laid to rest.

Exodus into Chad

The situation in Sudan has resulted in a large number of refugees seeking shelter in neighboring countries like Chad. Approximately 450,000 Sudanese have arrived since April, joining the existing displaced population from Sudan and other nations.

Although facing serious humanitarian issues and being one of the least affluent nations, Chad is currently providing shelter for almost one million refugees.

This year, aid workers initiated a humanitarian response plan worth $921 million, aiming to provide assistance to 5.2 million individuals considered the most vulnerable. However, with only eight weeks remaining in the year, the plan has only received 26 percent of the necessary funding.

Instead of engaging in conflict, promote harmony: Head of UNFPA.

On Tuesday, Natalia Kanem, the head of UNFPA, gave a report to journalists at the UN Headquarters after returning from Chad.

The leader of the United Nations’ organization focused on reproductive rights emphasized her discussions with female leaders, survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and their advocates. She stressed the significance of empowering women and their supporters in creating a fair, peaceful, and successful future for Chad.

She stated that during this tense time in human history, it is evident that the future of humanity should not be controlled by those who use bombs, but rather by women and their allies who stand united in promoting peace.

Source: news.un.org