As we enter the third year of conflict in Sudan, 12 million people have been forcibly displaced as of early December 2024. More than 3 million people have fled to neighbouring countries including refugees, returnees, and third country nationals, with 8.5 million plus newly internally displaced within Sudan. These numbers continue to increase at an alarming rate as the fighting and displacement continue. With the impact of the conflict growing in the region, the regional refugee response includes seven countries: the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda.
The 2025 Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRP) outlines the multi-agency, multi-sector response strategy and financial requirements of 111 partners supporting host governments in the seven countries, to respond with life-saving and, in tandem, resilience building interventions for a projected 5 million people (up from 3.3 million in 2024), including refugees, returnees, third country nationals and host communities. The number of refugees is projected to increase by 1 million. Further inclusion in and support to national social services, a stronger partnership with development actors particularly in creating "integrated settlements" and a strong focus on localization are key elements for 2025. Some 37 partners are local NGOs (approximately one third). As humanitarian needs continue to grow exponentially the financial requirements for January - December 2025 are USD 1.8 billion (up from USD 1.5 billion in 2024). Reported funding for the RRP has been concerningly low -- as of early December, the 2024 RRP was approximately 30 per cent funded. The 2025 ask of USD 1.8 billion covers crucial protection functions such as registration and identification of the most vulnerable upon arrival, response structures for gender-based violence, health -- including mental health -- food, transport, logistics, and education among others. Food, health and protection remain the top three budget lines.
The implementation of the Sudan Regional RRP is in accordance with the Global Compact on Refugees and the Refugee Coordination Model, in support of host governments who have taken the lead in responding to this crisis. UNHCR's Regional Director for the East, Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes, Mr. Mamadou Dian Balde, is the Regional Refugee Coordinator for the Sudan emergency. Local coordination mechanisms ensure that partners work effectively, share information and avoid duplication of efforts. There is a strong push to engage development actors from the outset.