WelCom September 2023
After months of protracted fighting, violence in Sudan continues to spread across the country, causing millions to flee their homes.
The ongoing conflict has put pressure on already scarce resources, with many people facing a lack of water, sanitation, food, shelter and safety, resulting in an urgent need for humanitarian assistance for people displaced within Sudan and in neighbouring countries.
Armed clashes began in April 2023 and as violence spread, more than three million people have been forced from their homes, including over 350,000 children, with 24.7 million people now in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
More than 1000 people have been killed, and over 12,000 injured in the fighting with the impact felt by the most vulnerable. A staggering 75 per cent of people affected by the conflict are women and children.
Sally Thomas, Caritas Australia’s humanitarian lead, said immediate needs are growing fast in Sudan, with so many people forced from their homes and the rainy season approaching.
‘For a long time, Sudan has been a host for refugees from neighbouring countries; these refugees are now forced to uproot and flee once more,’ Ms Thomas said.
‘Important aid work has been happening in refugee camps for many years with limited resources. This new wave of conflict is pushing the country beyond breaking point.’
Source: Caritas Australia