GENEVA: The United Nations’ migration agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), warned on Monday that Sudan is at a catastrophic “breaking point” due to multiple crises that threaten to lead to tens of thousands of preventable deaths. The UN agency’s statement highlights the severe impact of ongoing conflict, famine, and flooding on the war-torn country.
According to the IOM, Sudan faces an unprecedented humanitarian disaster exacerbated by a brutal conflict that has been raging since April 2023. The fighting between the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and a massive displacement crisis.
Othman Belbeisi, IOM’s Middle East and North Africa director, emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “Make no mistake: these conditions will persist and worsen if the conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access continue. Without an immediate, massive, and coordinated global response, we risk witnessing tens of thousands of preventable deaths in the coming months. We are at breaking point — a catastrophic, cataclysmic breaking point.”
The conflict has left over 10.7 million people internally displaced within Sudan, with many experiencing multiple displacements. An additional 2.3 million have fled across the borders into neighboring countries.
The IOM’s report reveals that recent flooding has displaced more than 20,000 people across 11 of Sudan’s 18 states since June, further compounding the humanitarian crisis. Critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has been destroyed, hampering the delivery of essential supplies.
In the past two weeks alone, over 45,000 people have been displaced, with more than 38,000 seeking refuge in neighboring countries. The Zamzam camp near El-Fasher in Darfur is facing severe famine conditions, according to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) review.
The IOM’s report also highlights severe restrictions on humanitarian access imposed by parties to the conflict, which have critically limited aid organizations’ ability to operate effectively. These restrictions have severely curtailed the delivery of food, water, health services, and other essential aid, particularly during the current rainy season.
“The humanitarian and protection conditions in Sudan are among the worst in the world,” the IOM stated. “Urgent funding is required for those still in desperate need of food, shelter, water, health services, and specialized protection.”
