Until April 2023, ZOA was working on recovery in Sudan. Since the outbreak of the conflict between rival groups and the national army, ZOA has been providing emergency aid again. This is urgently needed, as the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan is enormous. Nearly 11 million people are on the run, either to other parts of the country or neighbouring countries like South Sudan.
ZOA provides emergency relief
The war between paramilitary forces and the government army in Sudan is significant. Nearly 11 million people have fled. The humanitarian crisis in the country is immense. About 3 million people are now residing in neighbouring countries such as Chad and South Sudan; most (7.3 million people) have fled to other parts of Sudan.
There is a shortage of everything: food, healthcare, water, electricity, hygiene, and sanitary facilities. Over 25.6 million people in Sudan are uncertain if they will have something to eat tomorrow; 8.5 million of them are on the brink of acute famine.
“This is partly due to the missed planting season in 2023, a poor harvest as a result of the conflict, unsafe situations, high inflation, and limited access to humanitarian aid,” says Mahlet Tekalegne, programme director of ZOA in Sudan.
There is also an urgent need for water, sanitary facilities, and medicine. More than 70 percent of Sudan's healthcare has collapsed. “Epidemics are increasingly spreading in the centres for displaced people. Especially women and children urgently need protection,” says Mahlet.
Due to the violence in the capital Khartoum, ZOA relocated its headquarters in Sudan to the east of the country, where it is quieter. Local staff from Khartoum also went there. Where ZOA previously worked on recovery, the focus is now on relief in the states of Gedaref, Al-Jazira, South, East, and North Darfur.
This is not easy. The war is intense, especially in Darfur. Communication is limited, and government, market, and banking activities are disrupted.
It is impossible for ZOA and other relief organisations to provide large-scale humanitarian aid because it is being blocked by armed fighters. As the economy has collapsed, food and basic commodity prices are skyrocketing.
In recent months, ZOA, together with local partners, has provided emergency aid to communities in the Darfur and Gedaref states affected by the conflict. Now that the capital of Sennar state has also recently fallen into the hands of paramilitaries (RSF), even more people are fleeing to Gedaref in need of emergency aid as well.
“It is an advantage that ZOA has been working in Sudan for fifteen years,” says Mahlet. “We have a good network in the country.” ZOA staff is doing everything they can to help as many people as possible, even though most of them have also had to flee war zones.
In recent months ZOA, with partner organisation SOS Sahel, in collaboration with other NGOs, has provided food from shared kitchens for all people in the Abu-Talib refugee camp in El Fasher. This helped 1,744 displaced people.
In Dar el Salam, ZOA provided 1,369 displaced people with drinking water in four schools which are currently being used as reception centres. ZOA also built sixteen temporary sanitary facilities in these centres. Hygiene packages were distributed to 700 people there. Additionally, 1,349 people in the centres received a day's worth of information about hygiene.
In the state of Gedaref, ZOA's emergency aid reached approximately 274,188 people. With so many people fleeing to this area, the pressure on the facilities is immense. Access to food, water, sanitary facilities, hygiene, and healthcare are scarce but crucial needs. ZOA staff have been focusing on these needs in recent months.
Water supply systems were restored and modernized in Gedaref and Alrahad. ZOA also ensured that 4,318 people in thirteen refugee camps in Gedaref received water via transport.
In the towns of Madeinat Al Gedaref and Ar Rahad, ZOA distributed hygiene kits. Ready meals were provided to displaced people in the Wad Elhoory refugee camp.
“The challenges of providing emergency aid in Sudan are big, but the need is just as big,” says Mahlet. “The help we provide is urgently needed.”
Together, we do not want to give up on the people in Sudan and help with what we can. Food is now most important. Will you help with a donation?