October 30, Nairobi — The war in Sudan has displaced more than 14 million people, or about 30% of the population, since it broke out in April 2023, the International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday.
In a press briefing from Port Sudan, Amy Pope, director-general of the IOM, said that 11 million are internally displaced and 3.1 million have fled to neighboring countries. The war is “particularly horrifying,” Pope said.
“The situation here in Sudan is catastrophic. There is simply no other way to put it,” Pope said. “Hunger, disease and sexual violence are rampant. For the people of Sudan, this is a living nightmare.”
Meanwhile, Pope said that the IOM’s response plan is only 20 percent funded, and appealed to donors for more support.
Long-Term Impacts
The number of displaced people had increased 200,000 since September. More than half of those displaced are women and more than a quarter are children under five.
This week the UN also said that almost 25 million people require humanitarian assistance, with over 750,000 suffering from “catastrophic” food insecurity. UN secretary-general António Guterres highlighted the need for “decisive action,” including an immediate cessation of hostilities and unfettered humanitarian access.
On Tuesday Pope also highlighted the long-term impacts of the conflict. She said that education will be set back decades and the health and well-being of children will be stunted.
“A generation will live in the shadow of trauma,” Pope said. “We will not allow Sudan to be forgotten. But its people need peace, now. “