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UN: Over 100,000 Refugees Crossed from Sudan to Neighboring Countries

In this photo released by the UK Ministry of Defense the last evacuees and military personnel board an RAF aircraft bound for Cyprus from Wadi Seidna Air Base in Sudan, April 29, 2023. (UK Ministry of Defense via AP)
In this photo released by the UK Ministry of Defense the last evacuees and military personnel board an RAF aircraft bound for Cyprus from Wadi Seidna Air Base in Sudan, April 29, 2023. (UK Ministry of Defense via AP)
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UN: Over 100,000 Refugees Crossed from Sudan to Neighboring Countries

In this photo released by the UK Ministry of Defense the last evacuees and military personnel board an RAF aircraft bound for Cyprus from Wadi Seidna Air Base in Sudan, April 29, 2023. (UK Ministry of Defense via AP)
In this photo released by the UK Ministry of Defense the last evacuees and military personnel board an RAF aircraft bound for Cyprus from Wadi Seidna Air Base in Sudan, April 29, 2023. (UK Ministry of Defense via AP)

More than 100,000 refugees have crossed from Sudan to neighboring 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 neighboring 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 Paul Dillon, IOM spokesperson.

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 Organization official said it has delivered six containers of supplies to Port Sudan and has another 30 tons of aid stocks waiting in Dubai for delivery.

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Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash

Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
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Syria Puts Entry Restrictions On Lebanese After Border Clash

Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)
Cars line up to enter Lebanon after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad near the Lebanese-Syrian border (Reuters)

Syria has imposed new restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens, two security sources from Lebanon told AFP on Friday, following what the Lebanese army said was a border skirmish with armed Syrians.

The developments appeared to be the first instance of diplomatic friction between the two neighbours since opposition factions topped longtime Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad last month.

Lebanese nationals had previously been allowed into Syria without a visa, using just their passport or ID.

But a Lebanese General Security official told AFP Friday that they were "surprised to see the border had been closed" to Lebanese citizens "from the Syrian side".

The official, who like other sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, said that no new border measures had been communicated to them yet.

A security source at Masnaa, the main land border crossing between the two countries, said Syrian authorities had implemented "new procedures" since last night, only allowing in Lebanese with residency permits or official permission.

The Lebanese army said in a statement on X that its soldiers and Syrians had clashed at the border as the armed forces tried to "close an illegal crossing".

"Syrians attempted to open the crossing using a bulldozer, so army personnel fired warning shots into the air. The Syrians opened fire on army personnel, injuring one of them and provoking a clash".

"Army units deployed in the sector have taken strict military measures," the statement added.

Earlier, a Lebanese military official had said Syria's move followed "skirmishes between the Lebanese army and Syrian armed men at the border" who were briefly detained by the army.