Khartoum - Cairo: Europe and the Arabs
The UNHCR warned that the ongoing war in Sudan has created the worst civilian protection crisis in the world in decades, far from the world's attention. This week we have reached a tragic stage. Since the outbreak of the war 19 months ago, more than 3 million people have been forced to flee Sudan, seeking safety in neighboring countries. According to the UN daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received this morning, Saturday
The Commission reported that more than a year and a half has passed through unimaginable suffering, brutal atrocities, and widespread human rights violations. It explained that "every minute, thousands of lives are shattered by war and violence."
The Commission stated that displacement from Sudan continues and has reached levels not seen since the beginning of the crisis. In October alone, about 60,000 Sudanese arrived in Chad following the escalation of fighting in Darfur and the receding of flood waters.
The UNHCR warned that people are arriving in desperate circumstances, carrying with them only memories of the unimaginable violence they have witnessed and survived – “things no one should have to endure”.

Unimaginable horrors
The UNHCR noted that civilians are paying the heaviest price for this violent conflict. Those who managed to flee to Chad have recounted the horrors they experienced, including terrorizing civilians, looting of homes, and killing of people and animals. Many have been forced to watch their loved ones killed. People have been targeted based on their ethnicity. Men and boys have been killed and their bodies burned. Women have been raped while fleeing.
Many people recall seeing bodies left on the roads as they fled along a dangerous and inhumane route to safety.
According to UNHCR, 71% of refugees arriving in Chad reported surviving human rights abuses in Sudan during their flight. The levels of psychological trauma are devastating, with families still traumatized after fleeing the atrocities and still living in fear despite being in relative safety.
UNHCR said countries in the region are doing their best, but the needs are enormous in many host countries, whose people were already suffering from massive humanitarian needs. Neighboring countries are feeling the strain, with national facilities collapsing under the weight of the continuing arrivals.
Largest refugee influx in Chad’s history
Chad has become a lifeline and refuge for more than 700,000 Sudanese refugees – mostly women and children – forced from their homes since the outbreak of “brutal and indiscriminate war” in Sudan. According to UNHCR, this is the largest influx of refugees in Chad’s history, adding to the more than 400,000 Sudanese already living in protracted displacement in eastern Chad, bringing the total number of Sudanese refugees in the country to more than 1.1 million.
Once a small border town of 40,000 people, Adré has now grown seven-fold to 230,000 Sudanese refugees, many of whom spend months in dire conditions waiting to be relocated.
Despite efforts, the healthcare system is crumbling, with just one doctor for every 24,000 patients – far exceeding the emergency standard of one doctor for every 10,000 people. Access to water is inadequate. Education remains a top priority for families, but most children have been out of school for nearly two years. Food is scarce in Sudan, and more children are crossing the border suffering from malnutrition.
Egypt: Largest host country for Sudanese refugees
According to UNHCR, Egypt is the largest host country for Sudanese refugees, with 1.2 million Sudanese refugees, according to the latest government figures. Egypt has provided safety for those fleeing, ensuring that children can go to school, and giving refugees the right to work, start new businesses, and the opportunity to contribute to the communities that host them.
Ethiopia is establishing integrated settlements with the support of development donors, strengthening existing social services for Sudanese refugees and their hosts, while Uganda is providing new arrivals with documentation so they can use their education and skills to boost local economies. In the Central African Republic, Sudanese refugees have been allocated arable land to farm.

In Libya, local communities, including Sudanese who have been in the country for many years, have shown solidarity and support for tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees. Of the 3 million people who have fled violence in Sudan, 650,000 are South Sudanese returning to a very fragile country with massive humanitarian needs.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres breaks his fast with Sudanese refugees in Egypt, expressing his solidarity with the people of Sudan as war rages on in their country.
Least Funded Emergencies
UNHCR said that this is one of the largest emergencies in the world, but one of the least covered and least funded. It warned that without significant financial support from the international community, social cohesion and regional stability will be at risk and millions will face hardship. She explained that the regional refugee response plan in Sudan has only been funded by 29 percent of the $1.5 billion required.