Sudan conflict: Sudanese Red Crescent Society and IFRC teams responding

Sudanese Red Crescent Society volunteers assist a man injured during fighting in the country in April 2023 off of a stretcher and into a hospital to receive urgent medical attention.

Sudanese Red Crescent Society volunteers assist a man injured during fighting in the country in April 2023 off of a stretcher and into a hospital to receive urgent medical attention.

Photo: Sudanese Red Crescent Society

Please note: this page is no longer being updated. For the latest updates on this crisis, please follow the links below.

Latest information

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Fighting broke out in Marawei military base, Sudan on 15 April and then escalated rapidly in Khartoum and across the country. Reports indicate that hundreds of people have lost their lives, with thousands more wounded and in need of urgent medical attention.

Civilians are unable to access food or water because shops remain closed and their safety is not assured. Basic services like electricity and internet services have been disrupted. So far, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced internally or fled across borders to seek safety in neighbouring countries.

Medical personnel are struggling to access health facilities due to the fighting. Hospitals that are usually re-stocked every 2-3 days are now going weeks without supplies. Some of the most urgent needs in hospitals are first aid kits, diesel for power generators, stretchers, and beds, as well as transportation for medical staff and volunteers.

This latest flare-up of violence threatens to worsen a humanitarian crisis in a region that has suffered from years of violence, instability, economic hardship and food insecurity.

Our response so far

More than 200 Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) volunteers have been deployed in Khartoum to offer first aid services and psychosocial support to those affected.

Hundreds of volunteers have also been deployed in other states; North Darfur, South Darfur and Northern State (Merawi) to offer first aid services in hospitals.

Volunteers are running a family reunification service for people who have been separated from their loved ones, offering psychosocial support to those who have lost contact.

On 2 May we launched an Emergency Appeal for Sudan for 30 million Swiss francs to scale-up the Sudanese Red Crescent Society's local, life-saving action in the country, in collaboration and coordination with members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The IFRC has also made the following funding allocations to National Societies through our Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF):

  • 475,320 Swiss francs to the Sudanese Red Crescent Society to enable them to provide health services, psychosocial support, and search and rescue efforts across multiple states. Find out more
  • 137,369 Swiss francs to the Chad Red Cross to help them support the growing number of people fleeing the conflict and crossing the border into Chad. Find out more
  • 305,832 Swiss francs to the Egyptian Red Crescent to help them support the growing number of people fleeing the conflict and crossing the border into Egypt. Find out more.
  • 485,297 Swiss francs to the Ethiopian Red Cross to help them support the growing number of people fleeing the conflict and crossing the border into Ethiopia. Find out more.
  • 355,567 Swiss francs to the South Sudan Red Cross to help them support the growing number of people fleeing the conflict and crossing the border into South Sudan. Find out more.
  • 223,438 Swiss francs to the Central African Republic Red Cross to help them support the growing number of people fleeing the conflict and crossing the border into Central African Republic. Find out more.

We continue to call on parties involved in the conflict to provide vital humanitarian space. With every single hour that the wounded and the sick cannot receive urgent assistance, the human toll continues to grow. Health-care facilities must be protected, and their personnel and transport must be given safe passage. It is an urgent priority for us to be able to reach these facilities and for maintenance teams to reach power and water stations.

For more information

English:

Other languages:

  • (Arabic) AlQAhera interview with IFRC MENA Regional Head of Disasters (28 April)
  • (Arabic) AlQAhera interview with IFRC Head of Country office for Sudan (25 April)
  • (Spanish) El Pais article quoting Osama Osman, Director of Communications at the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (19 April)
Media enquiries

If you are a journalist and would like more information or to request an interview about this emergency, please contact [email protected]

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Donations 

If you would like to donate to help us support people affected by the conflict in Sudan, please click here.

We are grateful for your valuable support. You can learn more about donating to the IFRC here

 

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