The United Nations refugee agency has reported that more than 4 million people have fled Sudan since the outbreak of its civil war in April 2023, marking one of the world’s most severe displacement crises.
Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun described the figure as a tragic milestone. “Now entering its third year, the displacement of over 4 million people underscores the magnitude of this ongoing humanitarian disaster,” she said. “If the violence continues, we expect thousands more to flee, posing risks to both regional and global stability.”
Sudan, which borders Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, and Libya, has seen massive cross-border movements. Chad alone has received over 800,000 Sudanese refugees, many of whom are living in extremely poor conditions due to a severe lack of funding—only 14% of the UNHCR’s appeal has been met.
“This is an unprecedented humanitarian emergency,” said Dossou Patrice Ahouansou of UNHCR. “It’s a crisis rooted in violence and protection failures.”
Ahouansou recounted harrowing stories from survivors. One involved a seven-year-old girl who lost her leg after an armed group attacked her home in Zamzam displacement camp, killing her father and two brothers. Her mother had already been killed in a previous attack.
Other refugees shared accounts of armed groups seizing their animals and forcing adults to pull carts carrying their own family members while fleeing for safety.
The UN continues to urge the international community for increased support to address the urgent needs of the millions affected by Sudan’s civil war.
