Over 100,000 refugees crossed from Sudan to neighbouring countries — UN

02 May 2023 - 13:00 By Emma Farge and Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Mahamat Bechir Abdallah, a Sudanese refugee who fled the violence in his country, fills a container as he sells water to the other refugees near the border between Sudan and Chad, in Koufroun, Chad, on May 1 2023.
Mahamat Bechir Abdallah, a Sudanese refugee who fled the violence in his country, fills a container as he sells water to the other refugees near the border between Sudan and Chad, in Koufroun, Chad, on May 1 2023.
Image: REUTERS/Mahamat Ramadane

More than 100,000 refugees have crossed from Sudan to neighbouring countries to escape the conflict that erupted last month while hundreds of thousands have been displaced within the country, UN officials said on Tuesday.

“Over 100,000 refugees are estimated to be among those who have now crossed to neighbouring countries, including Sudanese refugees,” Olga Sarrado, spokesperson at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, told reporters at a briefing in Geneva.

At the same briefing, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that 334,053 people had been internally displaced within the country since April 15.

“In many cases, the small convoys are in a sense running the gauntlet between warring factions and it's an extremely difficult and dangerous situation for those who are embarking on these journeys,” said IOM spokesperson Paul Dillon.

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths is expected to visit Sudan on Tuesday. One of his priorities is to try to improve humanitarian access through guarantees of safe passage, his spokesperson said.

A World Health Organisation official said it has delivered six containers of supplies to Port Sudan and has another 30 tonnes of aid stocks waiting in Dubai for delivery.

Reuters 


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.