Faced with the recent escalation of fighting between armed forces and armed militias, the Auxiliary Bishop of Khartoum, Archbishop Daniel Marco Kur Adwok, has asked for urgent humanitarian aid.
The US and Saudi Arabia are hopeful that the recently extended ceasefire in Sudan will facilitate more humanitarian aid. “The extent of…
“Everybody is trying to leave Khartoum because nobody knows if they can stay there. I also had to leave, I crossed the border in my car. In Sudan and neighboring countries there is a huge need for help to accommodate people fleeing the conflict”. This is how the auxiliary bishop described the situation in the African country to Caritas Internationalis.
Most people have gone to South Sudan because it’s closer and cheaper, Adwok said. But some have also made their way to Chad, Central Africa or as far north as the Egyptian border.
Help from Caritas
In neighboring countries, Caritas helped people fleeing Sudan, distributed food, provided psychosocial support and supported transport services organized by humanitarian organizations. It is reported that many of the people fleeing to South Sudan are returnees who have left their homes in search of peace from the ongoing conflict and political unrest.
Urgently needed humanitarian aid
Bishop Adwok calls for support for people fleeing Khartoum and other parts of the country. The deepening crisis is leading to mass displacement as a result of intense hostilities and the failure of the ceasefire demanded by international actors. Relief supplies have been severely disrupted and aid agencies are struggling to reach those most in need for food, medical assistance or logistics.
“As Caritas Sudan we don’t have the necessary skills”, complains Auxiliary Bishop Adwok. “Before this crisis, we had just started to reactivate the local Caritas, which had been closed for 10 years. We need support and expertise to help those in need.”
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According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the humanitarian situation in Sudan is catastrophic. It’s not just the lack of food, water and fuel that affects the population, but also the rising costs of essential goods that push people to their limits. As the rainy season approaches, concern for those fleeing the country grows. Even before the conflict, some 16 million people depended on humanitarian aid. To make matters worse, neighboring countries, which have already hosted large numbers of refugees and IDPs, are unable to adequately care for Sudan’s new arrivals.
(lord-skr)