The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has appealed to governments , especially in neighbouring countries, to accommodate civilians fleeing Sudan into their territory and not to send them back to the embattled northeast African nation.
“We’re advising governments not to return people to Sudan because of the conflict that’s going on there,” Elizabeth Tan, UNHCR’s Director of International Protection, told reporters at a briefing in Geneva.
“This applies to Sudanese nationals, to foreign nationals, including refugees who are being hosted in Sudan, stateless persons, as well as those who do not have a passport or any other form of identification,” Tan said.
The refugee agency also said it is planning for an outflow of 860,000 refugees and returnees from Sudan and, with partners, which will require US$445 million to support the displaced until October.
The updates were made in a preliminary summary of the inter-agency Regional Refugee Response Plan for Sudan, which was presented to donors today. It will primarily cover immediate support in Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic.
“The humanitarian situation in and around Sudan is tragic – there are food, water and fuel shortages, limited access to transport, communications and electricity, and skyrocketing prices of basic items,” said Raouf Mazou, UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations. “UNHCR and partners have emergency teams in place and are assisting authorities with technical support, registering arrivals, carrying out protection monitoring and strengthening reception to ensure urgent needs are met. This is just a start. More help is urgently needed.”
The fighting has already displaced over 330,000 people inside Sudan with a further over 100,000 refugees and returnees leaving the country.