Humanitarian Crisis Worsening in Sudan’s Six Months of Conflict: Jesuit Entity

According to the Jesuit humanitarian entity, more than 1 million people have fled Sudan and more than 6 million have been internally displaced within the country.

The entity notes that those leaving Sudan continue to seek refuge in Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan where the entity is providing support and relief to the displaced populations.

“JRS has focused its response efforts since the beginning of the conflict in Chad and South Sudan, where we provide emergency education and psychosocial support,” the Catholic entity says.

In Chad and South Sudan JRS has focused its attention to providing physiotherapy rehabilitation, mental health, and psychosocial support. The entity has warned that the number of refugees in the country is likely to surpass the current 300,000 mark in the two countries.

“This number is expected to continue to rise in the coming months, as the conflict becomes more protracted, and people continue to cross daily in the hundreds,” the entity says say, and adds, “While the majority of people crossing early in the conflict were South Sudanese, now the percentage of Sudanese refugees looking for shelter is increasing.”

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The situation in Renk in South Sudan, a center that originally served as the transit center for Refugees from Sudan is now overwhelmed by the number of refugees, the humanitarian entity says, and warns that if urgent action is not taken, the crisis at the center will worsen and that the people already seeking refuge there will be in an even more sensitive and vulnerable situation. 

JRS has said that it is the only humanitarian body providing counseling services to a highly traumatized community, as well as the only partner offering physical rehabilitation and physiotherapy services.

The Jesuit entity is also providing basic humanitarian assistance including mosquito nets, cooking utensils, soap, and sanitary pads, which they say still makes it impossible to reach everyone in need.  

In his Sunday, November 12 Angelus address at the Vatican, Pope Francis expressed his concern about the war in Sudan which he said is causing a serious humanitarian situation.

“I am close to the suffering of those dear people of Sudan, and I make a heartfelt appeal to local leaders to encourage access to humanitarian aid and, with the contribution of the international community, to work towards finding peaceful solutions,” he said, adding, “Let's not forget these brothers of ours who are being tested!”