The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has stated that more funding is needed to ease the humanitarian impact of the war between the Sudanese army and its rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces(RSF).
The agency warned of “an even greater catastrophe” if its appeal went unheeded. IOM Director General Amy Pope said in a statement, “Our teams are responding, but insecurity and depleted supplies mean we are only reaching a fraction of those in need.”
The UN migration agency warned that humanitarian efforts in Sudan’s war-torn North Darfur region might come to a complete halt unless immediate funding and safe delivery of relief supplies are ensured.
“Despite the rising need, humanitarian operations are now on the brink of collapse. Warehouses are nearly empty, aid convoys face significant insecurity, and access restrictions continue to prevent the delivery of sufficient aid.”
The International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Sudan faces a worsening humanitarian crisis amid a bloody conflict between the army and the RSF, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions of people since April 2023.
According to aid groups and UN officials, RSF’s recent capture of North Darfur’s capital, el-Fasher, left hundreds dead and forced tens of thousands of people to flee reported atrocities by the paramilitary force.
The IOM said that nearly 9O,000 people have left el-Fasher and surrounding villages, undertaking a perilous journey through unsafe routes where they have no access to food, water or medical assistance.
Tens of thousands have arrived at overcrowded displacement camps in Tawila, about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from el-Fasher. In the camps, the displaced find themselves in barren areas with few tents and insufficient food and medical supplies.
Aid group Doctors Without Borders warned that malnutrition in displacement camps has reached “staggering” rates. Over 70% of children under the age of 5 who reached Tawila since the fall of el-Fasher until November 3, were acutely malnourished, and more than a third experienced severe acute malnutrition, the group said. “The true scale of the crisis is likely far worse than reported,” it said.
The violence has spread to other parts of Sudan including Western Darfur and the Kordofan regions, forcing more people to flee. According to the IOM, nearly 39,000 people fled North Kordofan between October 26 and November 9.
The war between the RSF and the military began in 2023, when tensions erupted between the two former allies that were meant to oversee a democratic transition after a 2019 uprising.
The fighting has killed at least 40,000 people, according to the World Health Organization, and displaced 12 million. Aid groups say the true death toll could be many times higher.
Sudan’s Foreign Minister Slams International Community’s Silence
Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mohieldin Salem condemned the international community’s silence over ongoing violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al Fasher, North Darfur and Bara in North Kordofan on Monday.
According to Sudan’s official news agency, the remarks came during his meeting in Port Sudan with the head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, who arrived in Sudan for a five-day visit.
Salem denounced “the international community’s silence over the ongoing violations committed by the RSF in El-Fasher and Bara.”
He stressed the need for concerted international efforts to “designate the RSF as a terrorist organisation.”
The Minister also reaffirmed the government’s full commitment to facilitating humanitarian work and ensuring the safety of humanitarian personnel, highlighting continued partnership with the IOM, particularly in projects supporting the voluntary return of Sudanese migrants.
Sudan’s news agency reported that Pope expressed solidarity with Sudan following the recent RSF takeover of Al Fasher and the grave, widespread violations committed against residents and civilians, “which forced large numbers to flee to the areas of al-Dabba in the Northern State and Tawila in North Darfur.”
The Director-General reaffirmed the IOM’s partnership and its efforts to address the humanitarian needs of newly displaced people in al-Dabba and Tawila.
