Latest news with #Ahouansou
Scoop
6 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Sudan: Rise In People Fleeing To Chad As Violence Surges
3 June 2025 Overall, some 1.2 million Sudanese have found shelter in eastern Chad, mostly after fleeing intensifying violence in their country. More than 844,000 crossed the border after war broke out in Sudan in April 2023. Prior to this, Chad was hosting roughly 409,000 Sudanese refugees who had fled earlier conflict in Darfur. 'A crisis of humanity' The situation is 'a crisis of humanity', said UNHCR's Principal Situation Coordinator in Chad, Dossou Patrice Ahouansou. The latest wave of displacement began in April following attacks by armed groups in North Darfur. Violence has surged since war erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Camps for people uprooted by the most recent violence have been attacked including Zamzam and Abu Shouk, along with the town of El Fasher, killing more than 300 civilians. Last Thursday, the UN World Food Programme's facility in El Fasher was repeatedly shelled, according to areportfrom UN aid coordination officeOCHA. A day later, Eldaman International Hospital in Al Obeid was struck by a drone attack, killing at least six health workers and injuring more than 15 others. Both attacks were reportedly carried out by the RSF. Exodus and arrival In just over a month, 68,556 refugees have crossed into Chad's Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est provinces, at an average of 1,400 new arrivals per day. More than seven in 10 'report serious human rights violations — physical and sexual violence, arbitrary detention, forced recruitment', said Mr. Ahouansou. Based on interviews with 6,810 newly arrived refugees, he said that six out of 10 reported being separated from their family members. Horrendous testimonies Mr. Ahouansou spoke of seven-year-old Hawa, whose family home in Zamzam was bombed. After her mother was killed, she fled to the Zamzam camp for internally displaced people. 'There again had been bombing' and this time it killed Hawa's father and two brothers, he said. With only her 18-year-old sister remaining, Hawa escaped to Chad. She was severely injured and had to have a leg amputated. 'It's difficult to hear, but this is the reality,' said Mr. Ahouansou, emphasizing that there were thousands facing similar situations. The UNHCR official also recounted chilling testimonies of forced labour along the perilous journeys, where many reportedly die because of the heat and lack of water. 'When armed groups see you leaving, they decide to let the donkey or the horse go. And you, as a human being, as a man... they will use you as a horse and ask you now to draw all your family members,' he said. Funding shortfalls Despite efforts by humanitarian actors and local authorities, the emergency response remains severely underfunded. Just 14 per cent of shelter needs have been met and refugees receive only five litres of water per person per day — far below the 15–20 litre international standard. Around 239,000 refugees remain stranded at the border. 'The lives and futures of millions of innocent civilians hang in the balance,' said UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun, who stressed that this was also a 'crisis of women and children' as they make up to nine out of 10 refugees crossing the border. 'Without a significant increase in funding, life-saving assistance cannot be delivered at the scale and at the speed that is required,' Mr. Ahouansou said.
eNCA
03-06-2025
- General
- eNCA
Four million people have fled Sudan since start of war: UN
DARFUR - More than four million people have fled Sudan since the start of the conflict in 2023, the United Nations said Tuesday, calling the figure a "devastating milestone". UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said that if the war continues, the outflow of people would threaten regional and global stability. Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a battle for power since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. "Four million people now have fled Sudan into neighbouring countries since the start of the war, now in it's third year," UNHCR spokeswoman Eujin Byun said at a press briefing in Geneva. "It's a devastating milestone in what is the world's most damaging displacement crisis," he added. "If the conflict continues, thousands more people will continue to flee, putting regional and global stability at stake." UNHCR figures showed that 4,003,385 people had fled Sudan as refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees as of Monday. Of those, 1.5 million have fled to Egypt; more than 1.1 million to South Sudan, including nearly 800,000 returnees who had been refugees themselves in Sudan; and more than 850,000 to Chad. - Strain on neighbouring Chad - The UNHCR described a deepening humanitarian emergency in eastern Chad, where the number of Sudanese refugees has more than tripled since the war broke out. The country was already hosting more than 400,000 Sudanese refugees before the conflict began, and the figure has now surpassed 1.2 million. AFP | Joris Bolomey This is placing "unsustainable pressure on Chad's ability to respond", said Dossou Patrice Ahouansou, UNHCR's principal situation coordinator in Chad, speaking from Amdjarass in the country's east. He said there had been an influx across the border since late April following violent attacks in Sudan's North Darfur region, including assaults on displacement camps. In just over a month, 68,556 refugees have arrived in Chad's Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est provinces, with an average of 1,400 people crossing the border daily in recent days, he said. "These civilians are fleeing in terror, many under fire, navigating armed checkpoints, extortion, and tight restrictions imposed by armed groups," Ahouansou said. He said the emergency response was "dangerously underfunded", with people living in "dire" shelter conditions, and tens of thousands exposed to extreme weather, insecurity and water shortages. UNHCR said there was an "urgent need" for the international community "to acknowledge, and act to eradicate, the grave human rights abuses being endured in Sudan". "Without a significant increase in funding, life-saving assistance cannot be delivered at the scale and speed required," Ahouansou said. The war has effectively split Sudan in two, with the army holding the centre, east and north, while the paramilitaries and their allies control nearly all of Darfur and parts of the south.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
Four million people have fled Sudan since start of war: UN
GENEVA: More than four million people have fled Sudan since the start of the conflict in 2023, the United Nations said Tuesday, calling the figure a 'devastating milestone'. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said that if the war continues, the outflow of people would threaten regional and global stability. Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a battle for power since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. 'Four million people now have fled Sudan into neighbouring countries since the start of the war, now in it's third year,' UNHCR spokeswoman Eujin Byun said at a press briefing in Geneva. 'It's a devastating milestone in what is the world's most damaging displacement crisis,' he added. 'If the conflict continues, thousands more people will continue to flee, putting regional and global stability at stake.' UNHCR figures showed that 4,003,385 people had fled Sudan as refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees as of Monday. Of those, 1.5 million have fled to Egypt; more than 1.1 million to South Sudan, including nearly 800,000 returnees who had been refugees themselves in Sudan; and more than 850,000 to Chad. - Strain on neighbouring Chad - The UNHCR described a deepening humanitarian emergency in eastern Chad, where the number of Sudanese refugees has more than tripled since the war broke out. The country was already hosting more than 400,000 Sudanese refugees before the conflict began, and the figure has now surpassed 1.2 million. This is placing 'unsustainable pressure on Chad's ability to respond', said Dossou Patrice Ahouansou, UNHCR's principal situation coordinator in Chad, speaking from Amdjarass in the country's east. He said there had been an influx across the border since late April following violent attacks in Sudan's North Darfur region, including assaults on displacement camps. In just over a month, 68,556 refugees have arrived in Chad's Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est provinces, with an average of 1,400 people crossing the border daily in recent days, he said. 'These civilians are fleeing in terror, many under fire, navigating armed checkpoints, extortion, and tight restrictions imposed by armed groups,' Ahouansou said. He said the emergency response was 'dangerously underfunded', with people living in 'dire' shelter conditions, and tens of thousands exposed to extreme weather, insecurity and water shortages. UNHCR said there was an 'urgent need' for the international community 'to acknowledge, and act to eradicate, the grave human rights abuses being endured in Sudan'. 'Without a significant increase in funding, life-saving assistance cannot be delivered at the scale and speed required,' Ahouansou said. The war has effectively split Sudan in two, with the army holding the centre, east and north, while the paramilitaries and their allies control nearly all of Darfur and parts of the south.
Al-Ahram Weekly
03-06-2025
- General
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Four million people have fled Sudan since start of war: UN - War in Sudan
More than four million people have fled Sudan since the start of the conflict in 2023, the United Nations said Tuesday, calling the figure a "devastating milestone". UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said that if the war continues, the outflow of people would threaten regional and global stability. Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a battle for power since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. "Four million people now have fled Sudan into neighbouring countries since the start of the war, now in it's third year," UNHCR spokeswoman Eujin Byun said at a press briefing in Geneva. "It's a devastating milestone in what is the world's most damaging displacement crisis," he added. "If the conflict continues, thousands more people will continue to flee, putting regional and global stability at stake." UNHCR figures showed that 4,003,385 people had fled Sudan as refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees as of Monday. Of those, 1.5 million have fled to Egypt; more than 1.1 million to South Sudan, including nearly 800,000 returnees who had been refugees themselves in Sudan; and more than 850,000 to Chad. Strain on neighbouring Chad The UNHCR described a deepening humanitarian emergency in eastern Chad, where the number of Sudanese refugees has more than tripled since the war broke out. The country was already hosting more than 400,000 Sudanese refugees before the conflict began, and the figure has now surpassed 1.2 million. This is placing "unsustainable pressure on Chad's ability to respond", said Dossou Patrice Ahouansou, UNHCR's principal situation coordinator in Chad, speaking from Amdjarass in the country's east. He said there had been an influx across the border since late April following violent attacks in Sudan's North Darfur region, including assaults on displacement camps. In just over a month, 68,556 refugees have arrived in Chad's Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est provinces, with an average of 1,400 people crossing the border daily in recent days, he said. "These civilians are fleeing in terror, many under fire, navigating armed checkpoints, extortion, and tight restrictions imposed by armed groups," Ahouansou said. He said the emergency response was "dangerously underfunded", with people living in "dire" shelter conditions, and tens of thousands exposed to extreme weather, insecurity and water shortages. UNHCR said there was an "urgent need" for the international community "to acknowledge, and act to eradicate, the grave human rights abuses being endured in Sudan". "Without a significant increase in funding, life-saving assistance cannot be delivered at the scale and speed required," Ahouansou said. The war has effectively split Sudan in two, with the army holding the centre, east and north, while the paramilitaries and their allies control nearly all of Darfur and parts of the south. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Four million people have fled Sudan since start of war: UN
Sudan conflict (AP) GENEVA: More than four million people have fled Sudan since the start of the conflict in 2023, the United Nations said Tuesday, calling the figure a "devastating milestone". UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said that if the war continues, the outflow of people would threaten regional and global stability. Sudan's regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a battle for power since April 2023. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and created the world's largest hunger and displacement crises. "Four million people now have fled Sudan into neighbouring countries since the start of the war, now in it's third year," UNHCR spokeswoman Eujin Byun said at a press briefing in Geneva. "It's a devastating milestone in what is the world's most damaging displacement crisis," he added. "If the conflict continues, thousands more people will continue to flee, putting regional and global stability at stake." UNHCR figures showed that 4,003,385 people had fled Sudan as refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees as of Monday. Of those, 1.5 million have fled to Egypt; more than 1.1 million to South Sudan, including nearly 800,000 returnees who had been refugees themselves in Sudan; and more than 850,000 to Chad. Strain on neighbouring Chad The UNHCR described a deepening humanitarian emergency in eastern Chad, where the number of Sudanese refugees has more than tripled since the war broke out. The country was already hosting more than 400,000 Sudanese refugees before the conflict began, and the figure has now surpassed 1.2 million. This is placing "unsustainable pressure on Chad's ability to respond", said Dossou Patrice Ahouansou, UNHCR's principal situation coordinator in Chad, speaking from Amdjarass in the country's east. He said there had been an influx across the border since late April following violent attacks in Sudan's North Darfur region, including assaults on displacement camps. In just over a month, 68,556 refugees have arrived in Chad's Wadi Fira and Ennedi Est provinces, with an average of 1,400 people crossing the border daily in recent days, he said. "These civilians are fleeing in terror, many under fire, navigating armed checkpoints, extortion, and tight restrictions imposed by armed groups," Ahouansou said. He said the emergency response was "dangerously underfunded", with people living in "dire" shelter conditions, and tens of thousands exposed to extreme weather, insecurity and water shortages. UNHCR said there was an "urgent need" for the international community to acknowledge, and act to eradicate, the grave human rights abuses being endured in Sudan". "Without a significant increase in funding, life-saving assistance cannot be delivered at the scale and speed required," Ahouansou said. The war has effectively split Sudan in two, with the army holding the centre, east and north, while the paramilitaries and their allies control nearly all of Darfur and parts of the south.
