UNHCR: After a year of war, thousands continue to cross the borders
moatinoon
Following a year of conflict in Sudan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) painted a bleak picture of the situation in the country, stating that thousands still cross the borders daily as if the war began yesterday.
The conflict has destroyed lives and filled people with fear and bitterness. The civilian middle class in Sudan has suffered complete collapse, losing everything.
In its first comprehensive review of the situation, the UNHCR confirmed that more than 1,800 people on average continue to arrive daily in South Sudan, while Chad has experienced its largest influx of refugees in history. The agency and its partners have successfully relocated most refugees to new and expanded camps, but over 150,000 people remain in overcrowded and unsanitary border areas.
In the Central African Republic, over 2,200 people from Sudan reached hard-to-reach areas in March alone, where logistical challenges hinder aid delivery.
In Egypt, the number of registered Sudanese with the UNHCR has quintupled in the past year, with a daily average of 2,000 to 3,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Sudan arriving at UNHCR facilities in Greater Cairo and Alexandria.
Ethiopia, already hosting one of Africas largest refugee populations, continues to receive new arrivals, recently surpassing 50,000.
The UNHCR revealed for the first time the movement of Sudanese refugees towards Europe, stating that statistics show an increase in Sudanese refugee movements to Europe, with 6,000 refugees arriving in Italy from Tunisia and Libya since the beginning of 2023—a nearly sixfold increase from the previous year.
Regarding the refugees conditions, the UNHCR mentioned that those crossing the borders, mostly women and children, arrive in remote areas with little or nothing, in desperate need of food, water, shelter, and medical care. Many families have been separated, arriving in distress. Many have witnessed or experienced horrific violence, making psychological and social support a priority.
Concerning health, the UNHCR noted that many children arrive malnourished. In Chad, 33,184 cases of moderate acute malnutrition and 16,084 cases of severe acute malnutrition were identified among children under five in recent months.
The UNHCR expects more people to flee Sudan to neighboring countries or beyond, risking their lives on long and dangerous journeys to safety as long as the conflict persists and aid and opportunities remain scarce.
The agency commended the host countries for their generosity in welcoming those forced to flee and for their efforts to ensure they access public services, including documentation, education, healthcare, and housing.
The UNHCR is working tirelessly to mobilize early development response to support national services in line with the Global Compact on Refugees.
The agency emphasized that funding remains critically low despite the scale of the crisis, with only 7% of the requirements outlined in the Regional Refugee Response Plan for Sudan for 2024 being met. Similarly, only 6% of the Foreign Humanitarian Response Plan within Sudan has been funded.
The UNHCR reiterated its inability to provide even the minimum assistance and reminded the international community of its commitments to support Sudan and host countries in ensuring that those forced to flee due to war can live in dignity.
