100 days of conflict in Sudan: Concern Worldwide featured on Al Jazeera
In an article in Al Jazeera, Urooba Jamal highlights the growing refugee crisis in Chad as the conflict in Sudan surpasses its 100th day of fighting. Jamal speaks with staff members from Concern Worldwide in Chad and Sudan about Concern’s response both in the country and with refugees crossing the border.
More than 280,000 people have fled Sudan into Chad following fighting that began in Sudan’s capital of Khartoum and has since spread throughout the country. As many as 30,000 of these refugees are registered in a border transit camp where Concern Worldwide is operating and more people continue to arrive each day.
“Many people are arriving in poor condition – exhausted, traumatized and some with injuries, including bullet wounds,” Audrey Hernandez, Concern’s Chad country director, told Al Jazeera. “They are arriving with very little either because they fled so quickly, because their belongings were burnt or looted, or because they have had to trade items to negotiate their way to the border.”
Concern is responding with a mobile health and nutrition clinic and has treated close to 1,200 patients since the start of the conflict. Teams are supporting the construction of shelters and distributing non-food items ranging from sleeping mats and mosquito nets to dignity kits for women and girls.
While Concern’s work continues in Chad, work in Sudan is limited due to fighting. Sudan Country Director AKM Musha said the lack of safe routes is affecting their ability to operate.
“Humanitarian organizations are facing barriers to assist people in need. Humanitarian responders need security in order to work. We need to be able to bring specialist staff into the country quickly, and we need to be able to move supplies.”
Concerns have also been raised over looting of humanitarian facilities in Sudan, and Musha said this has resulted in a lack of supplies for the conflict that does not yet see an end.
“It is no exaggeration to say we are facing a humanitarian catastrophe,” Musha said. “Nobody knows how this will pan out or where it is heading.”
Concern’s Response
Concern has been programming in Sudan for 37 years, and our work continues through the conflict as we provide support in the country and across the border in Chad and Sudan. You can support our response here.
