UNHCR says $445M needed due to rising numbers of people fleeing Sudan

GENEVA (AA) – The UN refugee agency said on Thursday it anticipates an outflow of 860,000 refugees and returnees from Sudan and that it will need $445 million from partners to sustain the displaced population until October.

The Regional Refugee Response Plan for Sudan will primarily cover immediate support in Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic, the UNHCR said in a statement.

The plan was developed in collaboration with 134 partners, including UN agencies, national and international NGOs, and civil society organizations, according to the statement.

“The humanitarian situation in and around Sudan is tragic – there are food, water and fuel shortages, limited access to transport, communications and electricity, and skyrocketing prices of basic items,” Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s assistant high commissioner for operations, said.

“UNHCR and partners have emergency teams in place and are assisting authorities with technical support, registering arrivals, carrying out protection monitoring and strengthening reception to ensure urgent needs are met,” Mazou said. “This is just a start. More help is urgently needed.”

The UNHCR said the 860,000 figure is a rough estimate for financial and operational planning.

Most people are likely to arrive in Egypt and South Sudan.

Over 330,000 people have already been displaced within Sudan as a result of the current fighting, with an additional 100,000 fleeing the country, according to the agency.