Amy Pope, the Director-General of the United Nations agency, IOM (International Organization for Migration), called on the international community to intensify funding efforts and not abandon the millions of civilians bearing the brunt of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has been ongoing for nine months.
Pope stated in a statement on Wednesday that there is an urgent need for a coordinated and ongoing humanitarian response to address the increasing needs of the world’s largest displacement crisis.
She emphasized the importance of halting the fighting in Sudan to enable people to rebuild their lives with dignity, stating that the international community should not turn a blind eye to the suffering of millions affected by this devastating conflict.
Pope added that the IOM needs all possible support to continue providing life-saving humanitarian assistance and move toward long-term recovery and solutions.
Over 7.7 million people have been forced to flee their homes in Sudan since the conflict began on April 15, 2023, according to the latest report from the Displacement Tracking Matrix by the International Organization for Migration issued on January 16.
Of these, 6 million have been displaced within Sudan, while another 1.7 million have crossed borders into neighboring countries, including South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, Egypt, the Central African Republic, and Libya.
The IOM is appealing for $307 million in funding for the year 2024 to reach 1.2 million people affected by this conflict.