The United Nations has announced that over four million people have fled Sudan since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, marking one of the most devastating displacement crises in the world today. Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, U.N. refugee agency spokesperson Eujin Byun highlighted the magnitude of the humanitarian catastrophe, warning that continued conflict would force thousands more to flee, threatening both regional and global stability.
Sudan, which borders seven countries Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, and Libya has seen a steady outflow of refugees into these neighboring nations. Chad alone has received more than 800,000 refugees, but the conditions they face are dire due to severe funding shortfalls. According to UNHCR official Dossou Patrice Ahouansou, only 14% of the required humanitarian funding has been met, leaving many refugees without adequate shelter, food, or medical care.
“This is an unprecedented crisis that we are facing. This is a crisis of humanity,” said Ahouansou, emphasizing the violence and trauma experienced by those fleeing. He recounted the harrowing story of a seven-year-old girl he met in Chad, who lost her entire family in a series of attacks on Sudan’s Zamzam displacement camp. She was seriously injured and had to undergo a leg amputation during her escape.
Other refugees shared similarly haunting accounts of brutality. Armed groups have reportedly stolen animals and carts, forcing people to transport their wounded relatives themselves while fleeing from conflict zones.
The UN warns that as long as the violence persists, the humanitarian crisis will worsen, placing immense pressure on already struggling neighboring countries and exposing millions to further suffering. The agency has appealed urgently for more international support to meet the basic needs of displaced populations and to address what it calls “the most damaging displacement crisis in the world at the moment.”
Global attention and concerted humanitarian action remain critical to mitigating the scale of human suffering unfolding in Sudan and across its borders.
