The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday that more than 10 million Sudanese, over 20 percent of the population, have been displaced from their homes. This data is highlighted in the Sudan Mobility Overview, a bi-monthly report compiled from data gathered through the Displacement Tracking Matrix.
Since the conflict began in April 2023, approximately 7.8 million people have been internally displaced, and around 2.2 million individuals have crossed borders into neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. Most internally displaced persons (IDPs) originated from Khartoum, South Darfur, and North Darfur, and many have experienced multiple displacements due to the escalating clashes.
The report details that over half of the IDPs (53 percent) are women, with 47 percent being men, and approximately 55 percent are children under 18. These figures underline the vulnerability of the displaced population, particularly children, to food insecurity and health challenges.
Primary humanitarian needs among IDP households in Sudan include food, healthcare, and non-food items like shelter materials, cooking supplies, and sanitation products. These shortages are attributed to disrupted supply chains, road closures, and the devaluation of the Sudanese pound. The report also warns that the upcoming rainy season may further hinder access to humanitarian aid and essential services.
In a statement from June, IOM highlighted the extreme risk of famine and disease. It pointed out that 70 percent of the displaced are now in areas at risk of famine, and the latest report confirms this, noting that 89 percent of IDP households are unable to afford food.
Recent clashes in Al Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, have exacerbated the situation by making mobility difficult due to road blockages and high transportation costs, limiting civilians’ ability to reach safer areas and obstructing the entry of humanitarian aid into the city. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) issued a statement in May urging conflicting parties to allow unimpeded humanitarian access.
On Tuesday, a UN press briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General noted the delivery of aid and relief to 2,000 displaced families by UNHCR and food assistance to over 120,000 IDPs by WFP. However, concern was raised over the funding received for the Humanitarian Response Plan, which was at only 30 percent of the required amount over halfway through the year.
As the world watches what is considered one of the worst internal displacement crises globally, escalating conflict, restricted access to humanitarian aid, and insufficient funding continue to exacerbate the situation, as highlighted in the full report on JURIST.