Statement on the crisis in Sudan
The ongoing and offensive violence across Sudan since 15th April 2023 has directly impacted thousands of civilians, resulting in loss of life, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and complete disruption of basic services.
Over the past weeks, an estimated 40,000 people from Sudan, mostly women and children, have arrived in Chad and many more have fled to neighboring South Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia. It is estimated that one in three Sudanese people are in need of humanitarian assistance due to the effects of climate change, food insecurity and conflict. Chad is already hosting over half a million refugees, and this number is expected to rise as the UN predicts at least 100,000 more people could arrive from Sudan in the coming weeks - putting further pressure on humanitarians working there.
Humanitarian need was already acute in Sudan, a country that has faced decades of political unrest and intersecting crises. Nearly 40% of the country’s population is affected by extreme food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition. The UN lists Sudan as one of the four countries most affected by climate change. Extreme weather shocks, including 2022’s devastating floods, locust infestation, and extended dry periods have forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes - the IRC states over 3.7 million people are now internally displaced and 15.8 million are in need of humanitarian assistance.
The situation in Sudan is complex and has far reaching impacts for the wider region, as neighboring countries too are experiencing extreme humanitarian need. Sudan itself has been host to over 800,000 refugees from South Sudan, as well as hosting refugees in the East of the country, fleeing conflict in Tigray.
The crisis comes just ahead of the region's annual rainy season, which could further impede humanitarian action, threatens to damage/ or destroy the camps housing displaced communities, and create competition for scarce resources among local communities and those fleeing their homes.
The Feminist Humanitarian Network sends our solidarity to all those impacted by the brutal armed conflict in Sudan and calls for an immediate end to fighting so that humanitarian action can resume and the lives of Sudanese people are protected.
FHN members working in Sudan have called on the international community to do more to help people in the country; to ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance; to protect civilians and humanitarian workers; and to support the country’s NGOs and civil society actors, particularly women’s rights organizations (WROs) and feminist-led organizations as they work amid the violence to deliver essential services to their communities.
It is essential that WROs working in Sudan have immediate access to the funding and resources that can allow them to reach those most at risk and protect the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people.
A coordinated regional response, supported by the international community is critical to ensuring adequate resources are mobilized and all humanitarian needs are met.
We know that women, girls and gender-diverse people are disproportionately affected in all emergency contexts so it is essential that their needs are prioritized. Shifting power and funding to women and feminist-humanitarian actors in the region can help support women, girls and gender-diverse people to access their rights as well as the continuation of gender-specific services which cannot afford to be interrupted, especially during crisis.
We urge those who currently hold power in the humanitarian decision-making spaces to support Sudan and its neighbors, and to include and listen to the expertise of feminist humanitarians working on the frontlines.