Sudan, ninety days ago the conflict began which has already caused the same number of displaced people as in the previous ten years

ROME – Since the conflict broke out in Sudan on Saturday 15 April, 2,231,523 internally displaced persons have been registered in the country: the same number as in the previous ten years. It is the highest number of displaced persons registered in the country since the Organization Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC) started monitoring in 2008. As of March 2023, one month before the conflict started, more than 3.8 million people were internally displaced within Sudanese borders.

How the conflict changes. In 2022, internal displacement was largely due to intertribal violence, most notably in the Blue Nile due to land disputes between the Funj and the Hausa, and in West Darfur state due to resource disputes between the Arab and non-Arab ethnic groups. In the meantime, the war that broke out in April has changed and has become national in scope. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in multiple locations across Sudan has displaced millions of people both internally and cross-border. Initially, the fighting took place in the cities of the northern states and Khartoum, and then spread to Darfur and Kordofan.

Violence in Khartoum. The city has recorded the highest levels of internally displaced persons: 1,558,798 reported from April to today. In 2022, the problem of displaced persons did not exist in Khartoum, writes the IDMC. In the Blue Nile, unlike last year, however, there were no internal displacements caused by the outbreak of national violence as the Funj and Hausa tribes signed an agreement in January 2023 in which the parties undertake to resolve inter-municipal disputes peacefully.

Darfur. Aside from Khartoum, which has experienced the highest number of internally displaced persons, the majority of reported displacements have occurred in West, South, Central and North Darfur, with 664,033 internally displaced people recorded since April. (Read about the origins of the Darfur drama). The conflict has reignited long-standing communal tensions, especially in West Darfur, where fighting has broken out between Arab and non-Arab communities. West Darfur has experienced an estimated 255,855 internally displaced people since April, more than 11 per cent of the country’s total. The bloodiest violence in Khartoum took place in the state capital, El Geneina, resulting in the displacement of thousands of people. The humanitarian situation in the city has worsened with attacks on civilians, water and electricity plants and hospitals.

The risk for neighboring countries. The conflict in Sudan also poses serious problems for neighboring countries, because it favors the flight of refugees, the proliferation of weapons and the increase of non-state armed groups that can seek refuge abroad. The conflict has already displaced 697,151 people in Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic and Libya.

The rainy season. The onset of the rainy season could bring further challenges, especially in the northern areas of North Darfur, South Kordofan and most of the Blue Nile, Sennar and White Nile states where above-average rainfall is expected this year . Indeed, the threat of floods can cause serious humanitarian consequences on the displaced population who have sought refuge in these areas.

Emergency shelters are urgent. In addition to the outbreak of waterborne diseases, people may also be forced to move further to escape floods. The displaced population needs emergency shelter, clean water, food, sanitation, psychosocial support, protection against physical attacks and other forms of life-saving assistance. The prevalence of disease and malnutrition among displaced children is still high and cases of sexual violence continue to be rampant across the country.