Sudan hosts an estimated ten million internally displaced persons (IDPs) as of 31 December 2023, representing the largest internal displacement crisis worldwide, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) revealed in its Displacement Tracking Matrix report on Wednesday.
Up to 2,199,478 of the IDPs were children between the ages of 0 and 5 years old distributed over 7,211 locations in the country, according to the report, which expected the already-elevated levels of acute food insecurity in Sudan to worsen.
IOM further called for urgent interventions, encompassing the cultivation of winter crops and the initiation of income-generating activities. These measures aim to alleviate the impacts of the prevailing conditions on the country's food security and enhance the community's resilience.
Additionally, the report called for providing financial support to displaced individuals. It cautioned that the prospects for millions of children are at risk due to the conflict, which has resulted in the deprivation of education for countless young individuals.
The Organization urged urgent action to ensure aid delivery despite various challenges that include insecurity, high levels of bureaucratic impediments, and attacks against humanitarian staff on the ground.
Also, the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) classified Sudan among the 10 worst violent conflicts worldwide.
“Against this backdrop, the war in Sudan is unlikely to end soon,” emboldened by the RSF successes in Khartoum and Darfur, and the lack of diplomatic efforts to achieve a complete ceasefire, the report added.
