In response to the escalating crisis in Sudan, the United Nations has allocated $5.3 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support 195,000 at-risk Sudanese refugees and their host communities in Libya.
This funding was announced by Joyce Msuya, the Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.
Stéphane Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, highlighted that the number of Sudanese refugees in Libya has surged dramatically since the onset of conflict in April 2023.
This new allocation aims to provide urgent assistance and bolster humanitarian responses as additional resources are mobilized.
The conflict in Sudan, now lasting over 15 months, has forced one-fifth of the country’s population to flee, including over 2.1 million who have crossed into neighboring countries.
This funding forms part of a broader regional response plan coordinated by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The plan encompasses relief efforts in Libya and Uganda and seeks to raise $1.5 billion to support those affected by the Sudanese crisis.
However, Dujarric noted that the response plan remains significantly underfunded, having received only $313 million to date, which accounts for just 21% of the total required amount.
The Sudanese crisis began in April 2023 with intense violence and conflict between rival factions, leading to severe humanitarian needs and mass displacement.
Libya, a key transit and host country, has seen a considerable influx of Sudanese refugees fleeing the violence.
The international community, through various agencies and response plans, is working to address the immediate needs of these displaced populations and to support host communities struggling with the increased burden.
The UNHCR’s regional response plan aims to provide essential services such as shelter, food, medical care, and protection to both refugees and host communities.
The substantial underfunding of this plan highlights the urgent need for increased international support to adequately address the crisis and mitigate its impacts on vulnerable populations in the region.
