The United Nations issued a warning on Monday that the ongoing bloodshed in Sudan could prompt over 800,000 individuals to escape into neighboring nations.
The violence that broke out in Sudan on April 15 forced tens of thousands of people to escape, according to the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR. Filippo Grandi, the agency’s director, tweeted that “UNHCR, with governments and partners, is getting ready for the possibility that more than 800,000 individuals could leave amid violence in Sudan for neighboring countries.”
“We pray it never reaches that, but more people will have to flee Sudan for the sake of safety if the bloodshed doesn’t stop,” These planned estimates do not necessarily imply that the UN anticipates this many people leaving, but rather that it feels it is feasible and is preparing to handle the enormous requirements that might materialize. The crisis has caused a humanitarian catastrophe, devastated large portions of Khartoum, run the risk of enlisting the help of regional countries, and restarted a war in the Darfur region.
Number of people who escaped Sudan
In the power battle between the army leader and RSF head—who together controlled the country after a coup in 2021 but split over a proposed transition to civilian rule—many people fear for their lives. The U.N. informed Reuters that the opposing forces may hold ceasefire negotiations in Saudi Arabia after both parties decided on Sunday to prolong a much-violated ceasefire by 72 hours. On Monday, however, airstrikes and artillery were heard as smoke covered Khartoum and nearby cities.
According to U.N. official Raouf Mazou, the organization’s refugee agency is preparing for an evacuation of 815,000 people, including 580,000 foreign and domestic refugees already residing in the country. The population of the nation is 46 million. According to him, 73,000 people have already left Sudan.
According to Egypt, 40,000 Sudanese have crossed the border, and those who have made the voyage have described it as difficult. Others have taken evacuation boats over the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia or travelled to places like Chad, South Sudan, and Ethiopia. According to the health ministry, at least 528 individuals have died and 4,599 have been injured. The real death toll, in contrast to what the UN has reported, is likely substantially higher.
These planning numbers do not necessarily imply that the UN anticipates this many people to leave, but rather that it feels it is feasible and is preparing to handle the enormous requirements that might materialize.
Hardship and danger continue for Sudanese
One of the most significant refugee populations in Africa, Sudan hosted 1.13 million refugees prior to the commencement of the conflict, including about 800,000 from South Sudan. As a result of the violence, many foreigners and international employees have fled the area, prompting frenzied evacuations by land, sea, and air from countries all over the world.
Over the past week, foreign governments have evacuated their citizens via air, sea, and land operations, though some nations have stopped their efforts. The U.S. administration reported on Monday that over 700 individuals were evacuated over the weekend using its vehicles from Khartoum towards the Red Sea port of Port Sudan.
After rescuing nearly 2,200 people, Britain declared it was looking at methods to offer humanitarian relief to Sudan alongside its international friends, the UN, and aid organizations. The Sudanese who remained behind had to deal with hardship and peril.
The change stunned those who stepped out into the streets on Monday. “We witnessed dead bodies. The entire industrial area was looted. According to local Mohamed Ezzeldin, “We saw people lugging TVs on their shoulders and large sacks taken from factories.” It is difficult to escape due to unstable power and water supplies, a lack of food and gasoline, unreliable hospitals and clinics, and rising transportation prices.
