GENEVA: The United Nations (UN) on Monday more than doubled its aid appeal to help nearly 2 million people likely to flee conflict-hit Sudan by the end of this year amid soaring needs.
The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said it and partners were appealing for one billion dollars to provide very necessary aid and protection to more than 1.8 million people likely to arrive in 5 neighboring states by the end of 2023, fleeing ongoing conflict in Sudan.
UNHCR said in a statement that this is a two-fold increase of what was first estimated in May to be needed to respond to the crisis, as displacement and needs continue to increase, AFP reported.
The agency had initially appealed for 445 million dollars for the regional refugee response this year, and already increased the estimate twice prior to the announcement of Monday.
Since war started between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on 15 April, at least five thousand people have been killed, according to conservative estimates from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project.
Massive Exodus from Sudan
The war has spurred a massive exodus. Less than 5 months into the crisis, more than 1 million refugees, returnees and third country citizens had fled Sudan, often into dire situations in neighboring nations.
Mamadou Dian Balde, the UNHCR regional refugee coordinator for the Sudan situation, said that those arriving in remote border parts find themselves in difficult circumstances due to inadequate services, limited access, and poor infrastructure.
He said that partners active in this response are trying hard to support those who are arriving and their hosts, but without enough donor resources, these efforts will be severely curtailed.
UNHCR said that so far, only 19% of the one billion dollars appealed for had been received, as humanitarians scramble to provide refugees vital necessities like food, water, and shelter.
The dire health situation among new arrivals needed especially urgent attention, it said, pointing to high malnutrition ratio and outbreaks of illnesses like cholera and measles.
