What's going on in Sudan? · Refugee Week 2024
On April 15th 2023, violent clashes erupted between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).
The conflict has primarily been described as a power struggle between the leaders of the two forces. General Mohamed Hamden Dagalo (also known as Hemedti) the head of the RSF and General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the SAF.
In 2019, both men were involved in a coup which overthrew long-term President Omar al-Bashir, and oversaw the following civilian-led government. However, they both deposed that government and took power themselves in October 2021. Afterwards, tensions emerged between the two leaders over Sudan’s future and this power struggle eventually erupted into large-scale violent conflict on 15th April 2023.
Prior to the conflict, Sudan was already experiencing a humanitarian crisis, owing to extreme weather shocks, social, political and economic instability, rising food prices and outbreaks of disease all pushing people into poverty and displacement.
The outbreak of conflict has only exacerbated these challenges, over 8 million people have been forced to flee their homes since April 2023, making Sudan the world’s largest displacement crisis.
Humanitarian access has been severely curtailed, amidst reports of mass killing and displacement, making it extremely difficult for aid to reach vulnerable communities.
Just over a year since the conflict began:
Over 14,000 people have been killed
Around 6.4 million displaced within the country- making it the largest internal displacement crisis globally
Over 8 million people have fled their homes, taking refuge inside and outside
the country- with children representing about half of the people displaced
In February 2024 the International Rescue Committee said Sudan is facing a “catastrophic hunger crisis”, warning seven million people could face extreme hunger by June 2024
Sudan is now the country with the largest number of displaced people and the largest child displacement crisis in the world.
Sources:
UNHCR Sudan crisis explained - https://www.unrefugees.org/news/sudan-crisis-explained/
Crisis in Sudan: What is happening and how to help - https://www.rescue.org/uk/article/fighting-sudan-what-you-need-know-about-crisis
Sudan: The “forgotten” conflict - https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/sudan-the-forgotten-conflict/