The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Friday that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is set to surpass 10 million, marking the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Mohamed Refaat, the Head of the IOM mission to Sudan, expressed his grave concerns: “How much suffering and human loss must the people of Sudan endure before the world takes notice? Isn’t 10 million internally displaced persons enough to spur urgent global action?”
Refaat emphasized the dire situation, noting, “Each of the ten million displaced lives represents a severe humanitarian tragedy requiring immediate attention.”
He highlighted that over half of the IDPs in Sudan are women, with a quarter being children under the age of five.
This week, the UN-affiliated organization recorded 9.9 million IDPs across Sudan. Before the outbreak of the current conflict, there were already 2.8 million internally displaced individuals.
In total, approximately 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes, with over 2 million crossing into neighbouring countries, including Egypt and Chad.
UN agencies are warning of an imminent famine risk in Sudan, with about 18 million people experiencing severe hunger, including 3.6 million children suffering from acute malnutrition.
The unfolding crisis in Sudan demands an urgent international response to address the escalating humanitarian needs and prevent further displacement and suffering.
The global community must act swiftly to provide aid and support to the millions of affected Sudanese civilians.
