Sudan: Clashes between SAF and RSF - Flash Update No. 15 (6 June 2023)
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The conflict in Sudan has entered its eighth week with fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continuing.
The humanitarian situation remains dire in Darfur with increase insecurity and attacks on civilians reported.
Nearly 1.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict started and are now displaced inside and outside the country.
At least 68 humanitarian organizations have continued to respond across the country after 15 April.
Despite repeated serious violations of the ceasefire agreement, humanitarian partners have managed to move relief supplies across states to assist 2.2 million people.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have continued for over seven weeks, with fighting reported in Khartoum, Al Obeid and different parts of Darfur. Since 15 April, at least 780 people have been killed, and about 5,800 injured across the country, according to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), as of 3 June. The humanitarian situation is particularly dire in parts of Darfur, as reports of inter-communal violence and attacks on civilians have increased. An attack in Kutum, North Darfur, on 3 and 4 June left an unconfirmed number of civilians dead and injured, including in a camp hosting internally displaced people.
During the ceasefire agreement that started on 22 May and expired on 3 June, both parties reportedly committed “repeated serious violations”, including occupation of civilian homes, private businesses, public buildings and hospitals, as well as air and artillery strikes, attacks and prohibited movements, according to a joint statement from the facilitators, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. The United Nations Security Council also issued a statement on 2 June strongly condemning all attacks on the civilian population, UN and associated personnel and humanitarian actors, as well as civilian objects, medical personnel and facilities, and the looting of humanitarian supplies. They called upon all parties to ensure rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Sudan.
About 1.2 million people (242,666 families) have been displaced internally by the conflict since 15 April, according to IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix as of 29 May. This number is higher than the recorded displacement during the previous four years. Many of them, including children, women, elderly, and others with specific needs, are sheltering in public buildings, or forced to sleep outdoors where they are exposed to severe weather and health threats. Most of the internally displaced people have taken refuge in West Darfur (21 per cent), White Nile (17 per cent), River Nile (15 per cent) and Northern (12 per cent) states. The majority of internally displaced people fled Khartoum (69 per cent). Internal displacement figures include also non-Sudanese nationals who have fled their homes as moved to safer areas. An estimated 150,000 refugees have now independently left Khartoum to relocate in dangerous conditions to White Nile, Gedaref, Kassala and Aj Jazirah States and Port Sudan, according to the Sudanese Commission for Refugees (COR). While the number of refugees in the capital has significantly decreased to less than half of the pre-conflict total and now stands at below 150,000, those still present face a dire situation, ranging from security issues to accessing food and basic services, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). In addition, 380,000 people, including refugees, asylum seekers and returnees, have crossed into neighbouring countries as of 1 June, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
More than 13.6 million children in Sudan are in urgent need of humanitarian aid, after weeks into the conflict, according to UNICEF. The conflict has forcefully led to school closures leaving millions of children out of their classrooms. An estimated 618,000 school age children including 458,000 internally displaced have been displaced inside and outside Sudan due to the ongoing violence while others are sheltering in their homes, according to the Education Cluster. Children out of school are at heighten risks of recruitment into the armed groups and other protection concerns. In Khartoum, several children have reportedly died at the Mygoma orphanage since the onset of the conflict. Malnourishment, dehydration and infections were identified as the main causes of death. The centre, home to over 300 children, faces shortages of supplies and staff, and recurrent power outages.
Access to basic services, including health care, continues to be severely hampered by the conflict. At least 46 attacks on health care have been verified by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 15 April, including 29 attacks on health facilities, 19 impacting health personnel, 12 impacting supplies, 7 impacting transport, 6 impacting warehouses and another 6 impacting patients. Since the signing of the Jeddah declaration on 11 May, 16 new reports of attacks have been verified.
Many people with chronic diseases need urgent and regular care across the country. According to the International Society of Nephrology Task Force in Sudan, there are 12,000 people on dialysis or with renal transplants needing urgent and regular care. As many renal dialysis centres in Sudan have closed down due to insecurity and lack of medical staff or supplies, getting the critical life-saving services they need is becoming increasingly difficult, according to WHO. Fuel shortages and electricity cuts have also forced many hospitals in Sudan to suspend emergency obstetric and neonatal care services, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
With the upcoming rainy season, which usually runs between June and October, there is an increased risk of outbreaks of water-borne and vector-borne diseases compounded by challenges in access to water and waste management in Khartoum and other conflict-affected states posing significant health risks, according to WHO.
Local markets and the availability of cash have been significantly affected by the conflict. The resupply of goods once local stocks are depleted due to limited supplies in country and disrupted transport networks remains a concern. Meanwhile, markets in less impacted areas are strained, as the influx of displaced people has put pressure on local resources.
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.
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