More than 3 million people displaced in Sudan conflict: UN

June 12, 2023 (NEW YORK) – The ongoing conflict in Sudan has displaced more than 3 million people in barely three months, a United Nations official said.

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson of the UN Secretary General on Wednesday quoted the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates of more than 2.4 million men, women and children displaced across all 18 states of Sudan.

“The majority are in River Nile State, followed by North, White Nile and Sennar States. Nearly three-quarters of those displaced originally fled from Khartoum,” he said.

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), more than 650,000 people have sought shelter from the fighting in neighbouring countries, while the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that an estimated half of those displaced by the fighting both inside and outside the country are children believed to be over 1.5 million.

“Overall, one in every two children in Sudan needs urgent humanitarian assistance,” stressed Dujarric.

Since the conflict began, UNICEF has reportedly provided health supplies to over 3 million children and women and safe drinking water to some 1.4 million people.

Clashes since April 15 between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed nearly 3,000 people. Another 2.2 million, according to the UN, have been forced from their homes inside the country with more than 650,000 fleeing across borders for their safety.

(ST)