IOM: Number of Displaced Persons in Sudan Increasing

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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan is rising, potentially reaching 10 million in the coming days.

In a statement released on Thursday, the IOM highlighted that the worlds worst internal displacement crisis is worsening, with famine and disease looming due to the devastation caused by the conflict.

The IOMs Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded 9.9 million internally displaced people across Sudan’s 18 states this week. This includes 2.8 million displaced before the April 2023 war and 7.1 million displaced since then. The statement noted that more than half of all IDPs are women, and over a quarter are children under the age of five.

The organization also stated that approximately 12 million people in total have been forced to flee their homes in Sudan, with more than 2 million crossing borders into neighboring countries, particularly Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt.

Amy Pope, Director General of the IOM, said, "The humanitarian needs in Sudan are vast, acute, and immediate. However, only 19 percent of the required funds have been delivered."

Regarding the situation in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, the IOM reported that more than 800,000 civilians are trapped amidst ground attacks, aerial bombings, and the collapse of essential infrastructure, including healthcare. The prices of food, water, and fuel have soared, making these basic necessities unaffordable.

Osman Al-Bilbeisi, the IOM Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated, "Vital roads out of El Fasher have been closed, preventing civilians from reaching safer areas and restricting the amount of food and other humanitarian aid coming into the city."

He added, "We join the United Nations in calling for an immediate cessation of fighting and ensuring safe, unimpeded, and sustained humanitarian access across borders and front lines. Millions of lives depend on it."

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Image Caption: Hafsa, a mother of four, fled her home in Khartoum due to the fighting and is now displaced in Al Qadarif, facing an uncertain future. Source: IOM Sudan