Sudan war: 15 million need emergency shelter but aid agencies can help only one in ten, UN warns

Millions of Sudanese people driven from their homes by war could be left without shelter because aid money is running out, two United Nations agencies have warned.

In a joint statement on Friday, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said about 15.4 million people in Sudan are in urgent need of a roof over their heads and essentials such as blankets, sleeping mats and cooking sets.

Because of funding shortfalls, the agencies can only plan to help around one in ten of them. So far, only 936,000 people have received this kind of help. The head of IOM in Sudan, Mohamed Refaat, said its warehouses were now empty, and warned that more people could be forced to flee again.

Since fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out in April 2023, about 8.6 million people have been displaced inside Sudan, the biggest displacement crisis in the world. More than 4.6 million others have fled to neighbouring countries. More than 5.2 million have gone back home, but many have returned to destroyed houses with no basic services.

The agencies said aid could not continue without reliable and flexible funding. The UN's overall appeal for Sudan this year is less than half funded.