The Escalating Crisis in Sudan: Conflict Displacement and Humanitarian Strain

Thursday 14 November 2024 - 14:58

The ongoing war in Sudan has now entered its second year, with the devastating consequences of the conflict continuing to unfold. The country is gripped by an intense struggle between two powerful factions, each determined to gain control, leaving millions of civilians to bear the brunt of the violence. As the conflict persists, vast numbers of people have been displaced, and the toll on human life is staggering, with hundreds of thousands dead and many others facing dire conditions of hunger and abuse.

The conflict ignited on April 15, 2023, when long-standing tensions between Sudan's army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), erupted into full-scale warfare. This power struggle is being described as an “existential battle” for control of Sudan.

From April 2023 to October 2024, nearly 9,000 attacks were recorded, with an average of 16 incidents each day, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), which tracks crisis events. The majority of these attacks have been concentrated in three key areas:

Khartoum:

The capital of Sudan has seen more than half of the total incidents, with 4,858 recorded attacks, accounting for 54% of all violence. In recent months, the Sudanese army has intensified efforts to reclaim territory previously captured by the RSF.

Gezira State:

Known for its agricultural significance, this area south of Khartoum has experienced 1,077 attacks, representing 12% of the overall conflict incidents.

North Darfur:

This region, historically affected by internal conflict, has suffered at least 818 attacks, or 9% of the total incidents.

The remainder of the country, including South Darfur, North Kordofan, and West Darfur, has witnessed ongoing violence, making up the remaining 25% of the recorded attacks.

As the war rages on, the humanitarian crisis deepens, with no clear resolution in sight. The consequences of the conflict are felt across Sudan, where the people continue to endure unimaginable hardship.