About one million people have been displaced from their homes in Sudan due to the fighting in the country, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has revealed.

Development Diaries reports that over 600 people have been killed and more than 5,000 others have been injured since the start of the fighting in April 2023.

It is understood that the situation for millions of people in Sudan is dire as they are trapped indoors and running out of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine.

Health services are also struggling, with several hospitals closing down due to the shortage of medical supplies.

This has forced about a million people to flee their homes in search of refuge either in neighbouring states or across the borders into south Sudan or Chad.

‘IRC staff at the borders with Sudan have reported thousands of refugees living in makeshift tents with limited access to clean water and sanitation’, IRC’s Vice President for East Africa, Kurt Tjossem, said in a statement.

‘Efforts are underway to transfer them to neighbouring existing camps, but the large numbers of people make this a challenging task.

‘We know there are many uncertainties for people right now, but one thing that is clear is the needs are immense, immediate and will be for a long time.

‘The longer they remain in these conditions, the more vulnerable they become to disease, hunger, and other hardships’.

United Nations experts have warned that the humanitarian situation in Sudan could get worse if all parties to the conflict do not prioritise the protection of civilians and provide unrestricted access to life-saving aid.

Also, it is crucial for the Jeddah ceasefire negotiations to expand to include respect for international humanitarian law, the protection of civilians, and ending the violations of human rights.

Photo source:  United Nations