Latest news with #SudanCrisis
ABC News
2 days ago
- General
- ABC News
More than four million refugees have fled Sudan, UN says
More than four million refugees have fled Sudan since the beginning of its civil war in 2023, UN refugee agency officials say. The world's most "damaging displacement crisis" is now in its third year, with many survivors facing lack of shelter due to funding shortages, the UN said. "If the conflict continues in Sudan, we expect thousands more people will continue to flee, putting regional and global stability at stake," UN refugee agency spokesperson Eujin Byun said. Sudan, which erupted with violence in April 2023, shares borders with seven countries: Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Central African Republic and Libya. Sudan's regular army has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces as leaders vied for power. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 13 million — nearly a quarter of Sudan's population — ravaged the country's infrastructure and caused famine in some areas. More than 800,000 of the refugees have arrived in Chad, where their shelter conditions are dire due to funding shortages, with only 14 per cent of funding appeals met, UNHCR's Dossou Patrice Ahouansou said. "This is an unprecedented crisis that we are facing," he said. This is a crisis of humanity. Many of those fleeing reported surviving terror and violence, he added, describing meeting a seven-year-old girl in Chad who was hurt in an attack on her home in Sudan's Zamzam displacement camp. The girl's father and two brothers were killed in the attack and her leg was amputated during her escape, he said. Her mother had been killed in an earlier attack, Mr Ahouansou said. Other refugees told stories of armed groups taking their horses and donkeys and forcing adults to draw their own family members by cart as they fled, he said. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Monday there is an "absence of exposure to this crisis globally, and across much of the Western world". "The crisis in Sudan… is the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the world currently and it is a matter of deep, deep concern," Lammy said. In just over a month, more than 65,000 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, according to the UN refugee agency. "These civilians are fleeing in terror, many under fire, navigating armed checkpoints, extortion, and tight restrictions imposed by armed groups," the agency said. Over 17 million Sudanese children are out of school, 5,000 have been kidnapped or missing and 3,000 children have died in the war which broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rival RSF on April 15, 2023, according to Sudan's National Council for Child Welfare. Child abuse has worsened since the outbreak of the war, with UN reports revealing children have been forcibly recruited as fighters, and cases of sexual abuse and slavery have increased. Aid has frequently come under the crossfire in the two-year-old war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has left more than half the population facing crisis levels of hunger. Refugees currently receive only 5 litres of water per person per day, well below the international standard of 15 to 20 litres for basic daily needs. As part of the Sudan Regional Refugee Response, UNHCR and partners in Chad are urgently seeking over US$550 million ($850) to respond to the life-saving needs of refugees fleeing Sudan into eastern Chad, including protection, shelter, food, water and sanitation. ABC/wires
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Joanne Froggatt among signatories calling on Government to take action on Sudan
Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt is among dozens of famous faces who have called on the UK Government to take 'rapid action' and provide humanitarian aid to Sudan. Froggatt is among 50 high-profile people from TV, film, music and sport who have signed an open letter led by children's charity Plan International UK which calls on the Prime Minister to tackle the crisis in Sudan by maintaining funding commitments after announcing a cut in the foreign aid budget. The letter, which was also signed by Warfare's Will Poulter, Bridgerton actress Adjoa Andoh and singer-songwriter Cat Burns, will be delivered to 10 Downing Street on Monday alongside a petition signed by more than 8,500 members of the public. Froggatt said: 'Millions of children have been forced into dangerous, overcrowded camps both within and beyond Sudan. These are not safe places for such young lives. 'Children's lives are now characterised by danger and death as hunger and disease spread while the violence rages on. 'They are suffering in silence. We need to draw attention to this crisis and demand rapid action from the UK Government. By talking about Sudan we can save children's lives.' Since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023, Sudan has topped the International Rescue Committee's (IRC) Emergency Watchlist, which analyses countries that are most likely to experience a new or worsening humanitarian crisis, for a second consecutive year. The IRC has also described it as 'the largest and fastest displacement crisis in the world' and the 'largest humanitarian crisis on record'. England footballer Lucy Bronze, director Sir Steve McQueen and musician Peter Gabriel have also added their names to the open letter alongside TV cook Delia Smith and boxer Ramla Ali. The letter reads: 'Following over two years of violent conflict, Sudan is now the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with half of the country's population – a staggering 24.6 million people – already facing high levels of acute food insecurity. 'Time is quickly running out. Violence, starvation and disease are killing more and more children every day. The UK Government must do all it can to help save lives before it is too late.' Burns, who is known for her hit song Go, added: 'What's happening in Sudan is devastating. 'Children are being torn from their homes, going hungry, and living through horrors no one should ever face. 'We can't turn away or stay quiet. The world needs to act before even more lives are lost.' The letter also urges the Government to increase international pressure and mediation to ensure a ceasefire as well as providing emergency funding and scaling up mutual aid groups. Poulter, who is known for We're The Millers and The Maze Runner, said: 'The stories about the scale of starvation coming out of Sudan are utterly heart-breaking. 'The situation is quickly escalating into one of the worst famines ever recorded. 'With such an extreme shortage of food, immediate action is needed now to save lives and prevent further suffering. We can't let children and their families in Sudan starve to death.' The letter is supported by a coalition of aid organisations, including the chief executives of Cafod, Save the Children UK, Action Against Hunger, Christian Aid, and leading Sudanese campaigners. Mohamed Kamal, country director for Plan International Sudan, said: 'The sheer scale of the suffering being endured by people in Sudan is almost impossible to comprehend. 'Two years of brutal fighting, severe restrictions on the delivery of life-saving aid and a near-total collapse of the food supply across the country has caused a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale the world hasn't witnessed in generations. 'With every day that passes, more and more children face the unacceptable risk of death from extreme hunger, war and disease. Turning our backs on them would be utterly inhumane.' A spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'As the Foreign Secretary said, Sudan is suffering one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes on record, which is why we convened leaders from around the world in April to strengthen support for the Sudanese people. 'The UK is doing all we can to provide aid, and last month announced £120 million to support over 650,000 Sudanese people in desperate need. 'The number of people who need help will rise if the warring parties continue to show an appalling disregard for human life by blocking aid routes that must be kept open, accessible and safe.'
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sudan war: Country 'on brink' of health disaster as cholera spreads
War-torn Sudan is now "on the brink" of a public health disaster as cholera and other deadly diseases spread, aid group, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has just one week, Sudan's Health Ministry recorded that 172 people have died due to a cholera outbreak, posting on Facebook that most of the new cases are in Khartoum state. According to local doctors, cited by Sudanese media, drone attacks have caused power outages at water purification stations, which has left people with no choice but to use unclean country director for Sudan Eatizaz Yousif said the civil war - now in its thrid year - "is fuelling the resurgence of cholera". In a statement, the IRC emphasised that cholera vaccine coverage was "low" and "essential supplies dwindling".The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned of reports of "thousands of suspected cholera cases" in Khartoum since the middle of last medical co-ordinator in the country, Slaymen Ammar, stated that "the conflict has clearly compromised basic infrastructure".In a press release, he said that healthcare in parts of the capital was "either unavailable or unaffordable", adding that "many of the remaining health workers had no choice but to leave" due to Ammar adds that the few remaining health facilities are many as 500 cases of cholera were reported in just one day in the past week in Khartoum, MSF from the Khartoum area, cases were also cited in northern and southern Sudan, the AFP news agency people with cholera have mild symptoms or none at all. However, the disease can be a fatal if it causes severe diarrhoea, requiring antibiotics and IV fluids for treatment, according to the World Health than 150,000 people have been killed during Sudan's conflict, which began over two years ago when Sudan's army and the RSF began a vicious struggle for have been forced from their homes and the conflict has plunged the country into what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. More BBC News stories about Sudan: No water, no power - Port Sudan reeling after week of attacksDrone attacks raise stakes in new phase of Sudan's civil warWATCH: 'They ransacked my home, and left my town in ruins' Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Arabian Business
10-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
UAE waives fines some residents
The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (UAEICP) has announced a fine exemption for some nationals. Sudanese nationals with expired residency and entry permits are exempt from the fines, effective from May 19 until the end of 2025. The decision comes as part of UAE's humanitarian response to the current situation in Sudan, according to a statement by the Emirates News Agency (WAM). ICP announces fine exemption for Sudanese residents in UAE amid crisis According to the ICP, affected individuals can regularise their status and submit renewal applications through official digital platforms without incurring penalties. The ICP explained that the move 'aligns with the UAE's long-standing commitment to supporting brotherly nations and offering humanitarian aid during crises.' The authority further noted that the exemption 'reflects the wise leadership's commitment to compassion and generosity, embodying the UAE's core message of promoting humanity and peace.' Sudanese nationals with outstanding fines will benefit from streamlined and flexible processes, with all incurred fines waived as they regularise their status. The ICP emphasised that the decision is part of broader 'national efforts to strengthen social and humanitarian well-being for UAE residents.'
