According to the United Nations, the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 15, 2023, has resulted in the displacement of more than 7.3 million people in Sudan.
The mass displacement includes both internal and external refugees, making it the world’s largest child displacement crisis, with children constituting about half of the affected population.
Recent data from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) highlights a significant increase of 500,000 internally displaced individuals within Sudan within a month.
The International Organization for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix (IOM DTM) reported that more than 5.9 million people are displaced across 6,213 locations within Sudan. The highest concentrations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are in South Darfur, East Darfur, River Nile, Aj Jazirah, and North Darfur.
Additionally, around 1.4 million individuals have crossed into neighboring countries since the conflict began. Recent clashes in various Sudanese regions, such as Aj Jazirah, North Kordofan, and South Darfur, have further exacerbated the situation, resulting in more displacements and casualties.
Sudan has since April 15, 2023 been plunged into a civil war pitting army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
The conflict has resulted in a devastating toll, with over 12,190 casualties and tens of thousands injured.
Mediation efforts have faced significant obstacles due to deep-seated animosity between the rival factions. Despite Burhan’s administration continuing to issue statements as Sudan’s government, Dagalo’s Rapid Support Forces assert control over Khartoum’s streets, Darfur, and a substantial part of Al-Jazira, once Sudan’s vital agricultural region.
