Guernsey’s Overseas Aid and Development Commission will make an immediate donation of £50,000 to United Kingdom for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency’s charity partner, to assist refugees affected by the Sudan conflict.
Recent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have significantly displaced refugee populations, with almost 30,000 people fleeing to Chad, around 45,000 to South Sudan and just under 10,000 in the Central African Republic (CAR).
The conflict has already displaced over 700,000 people inside Sudan and over 150,000 refugees and returnees have left that Country, a number which is expected to rise. It has also taken the lives of at least 550 people, as of 5th May, with a further 5,000 injuries. There were already more than a million refugees within Sudan itself before the conflict.
Deputy Chris Blin, the President of the OA&DC, said: “The Commission has been monitoring the alarming developments in Sudan and wishes to make every effort to relieve the suffering of the many refugees in that Country and those arriving in neighbouring countries. According to the Red Cross, 15 million people were already in need of assistance before the conflict broke out, and recent events have only increased that number.
“The UN is warning of a possible 800,000 people exodus from Sudan, adding to the refugee population of neighbouring states. Refugees crossing into neighbouring countries sometimes wait for days before being able to cross the borders. They have little food or water and limited access to protection and aid. We are convinced of the need to upscale efforts to help these refugees and that is why the Commission is pleased to make a Disaster and Emergency Relief Award to the UNHCR.”
UNHCR is well placed to respond as it has offices in the countries where refugees are fleeing to. Since the start of the conflict, it has been working to respond quickly to assistance calls and has initiated pre-registration activities to identify cross-border arrivals and assess their needs.
The Chief Executive Officer of UK for UNHCR, Emma Cherniavsky, stated: “We are hugely grateful to Guernsey Overseas Aid and Development Commission for their unwavering generosity to support families displaced by the deadly conflict in Sudan.
“Hundreds of thousands of families have been on the move, facing shortages of food, water, fuel, limited access to transport, communications, electricity, and high prices of basic items. UNHCR emergency teams have been working tirelessly with authorities and partners across Sudan and neighbouring countries, but more help is urgently needed.”
With the assistance of the Bailiwick’s donation, UNHCR will be supplying sleeping mats, soap, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, cooking utensils, potable water, jerry cans and medical screening, as well as continuing to work on the registration, monitoring and identification of refugees.
Pictured: A family of returning South Sudanese refugees wait at a UNHCR transit centre at the Joda border point, Renk, South Sudan. Picture credit: UNHCR/Charlotte Hallqvist
