Briefjng note 24 November 2020 SUDAN Humanitarian impact of multiple protracted crises KEY PRIORITIES CRISIS IMPACT OVERVIEW Sudan is affected by a combination of political and economic instability, confmict, cli - mate change-related shocks including heavy fmooding and severe drought, endemics, 9.3 million and an infmux of refugees from neighbouring countries. These factors have contribut - ed to heightened poverty, increased population displacement, and food insecurity (FAO PEOPLE IN NEED 12/10/2020) . Sudan is also hosting an additional 30,000 refugees fmeeing the crisis in OF HUMANITARIAN Ethiopia. This will likely require further capacity and resources from the Sudanese gov - ASSISTANCE ernment and international organisations, to deliver assistance both to the newly arrived refugees and the people affected by the protracted crises in Sudan. 1.8 million In 2020, Sudan’s economy – which had been in crisis since 2018 – suffered a sharp de - cline. The economic crisis, combined with unprecedented fmooding and the depletion of PEOPLE FACING state resources due to the economic crisis, resulted in an estimated 9.6 million people PROTRACTED INTERNAL facing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and above levels of food insecurity. This was a 65% increase DISPLACEMENT from the same period last year (June to September 2019), and the highest number ever recorded. 9.6 million HUMANITARIAN CONSTRAINTS PEOPLE ARE FOOD Heavy rains and fmooding since mid-July, confmict, an economic crisis – including fuel INSECURE shortages and fmuctuation of the Sudanese pound – and poor infrastructure such as roads and bridges hamper effective humanitarian operations. Although there were no +875,000 COVID-19-related movement restrictions as at 23 November, the rising number of con - fjrmed COVID-19 cases in Sudan is likely to result in the re-introduction of curfews, travel restrictions, and other containment measures. PEOPLE AFFECTED BY FLOODS IN 2020 Source: IPC 10/2020 LIMITATIONS It is diffjcult to conduct frequent needs assessments in some remote parts of Sudan, so some information on needs – including in this note – are based on the latest reliable data, which can be several months or years old, and some data is based on estimations.
Briefjng note | 24 November 2020 and goats, petroleum, and oily seeds. The main market for its exports is in regional Arab CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION nations in the Middle East. Sudan imports 50% more than it exports, however ( FT 27/09/2020 ; OEC accessed 11/11/2020 ; WITS accessed 11/11/2020). The main imports are wheat, sugar, In December 2018, mass protests erupted against the Sudanese government after the price and medicine ( OEC accessed 11/11/2020 ; WITS accessed 11/11/2020). Sudan has a trade defj - of bread tripled, leading to the overthrow of the then President Omar al-Bashir, who had been cit that is contributing to its economic decline, together with the sharp devaluation of the Su - in power for over 30 years. Following the coup d’état, a transitional government was put in danese pound; it has been devalued four times since 2018 and has a current infmation rate of place in 2019. As Sudan continues to face a transition characterised by political instability, 32.4%. Since September 2020 – amid the economic and health crises, such as the COVID-19 the country is confronting a complex humanitarian crisis. The complex crisis is character - pandemic – prices for staple foods, such as bread and sugar, have increased by 50% and ised by: are on an upward trend ( The Guardian 17/09/2020 ). The unprecedented fmooding, which de - • Protracted confmict and displacement stroyed large amounts of harvested crops and agricultural land, is preventing general access to food for poor households and has contributed to the increase in the price of staple food. • Deteriorating economic conditions Increased food prices and the loss in value of the Sudanese pound have made it diffjcult for • Limited access to basic services for the affected population economically vulnerable households to purchase food and other basic goods. • Epidemic outbreaks, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1993, Sudan has been on the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, which effectively This is coupled with natural hazards, including: denies Sudan the right to access international loans from the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank ( Al Jazeera 11/09/2020 ). Negotiations surrounding its removal from this list • Floods were in process between the two governments, contingent upon Sudan’s recognition of the • Droughts State of Israel. The process has been on hold since the start of the US presidential elections. • Desert locust outbreaks. If the currency continues to devalue, food shortages and infmated prices will continue to rise, increasing the possibility of unrest – as in December 2018. Current economic trends indicate The combination of these factors has left 1.87 million people in long-term displacement – that any further deterioration could have widespread and devastating consequences, partic - and an estimated 9.6 million people were already food insecure before the fmoods in mid-July ularly following the severe fmooding. ( OCHA 27/08/2020; WFP 16/10/2020 ). Sudan also hosts 1.1 million refugees from the region – the majority from neighbouring South Sudan (HRW accessed 11/11/2020) . Sudan has accumulated a debt of approximately USD 60 billion (International Policy Digest 17/09/2020; AP 24/09/2020 ). A high national debt may lead to government money going into The Humanitarian Needs Overview for Sudan estimated that 9.3 million Sudanese are in debt repayment rather than government services such as healthcare. Economic debt may need of humanitarian assistance in 2020, out of a total population of 43.8 million (OCHA also slow down the economy as businesses borrow less money, hire fewer staff, and in - 01/2020). In March, the state of Khartoum declared a state of medical emergency as a result crease the prices of goods and services. of the COVID-19 pandemic, while in July North Darfur announced a state of emergency be - cause of increased violence ( The Africa Report 15/09/2020 ). On 5 September, following severe Refugees in Sudan: Sudan has a long-standing history of hosting refugees and continues fmooding, the Sudanese Transitional Government announced a three-month nationwide state to host 1.1 million people from Eritrea, Chad, Syria, Yemen, and other countries. The major - of emergency and the entirety of Sudan was declared a natural disaster zone until November ity of the refugees – around 821,000 people – come from neighbouring South Sudan (UN- 2020 ( OCHA 13/11/2020 ). On 10 September, an additional state of emergency was declared HCR 31/05/2020; 31/10/2020) . As of 23 November, Sudan is also hosting more than 38,000 nationwide as cash stocks were depleted in banks across the country due to the fall of Su - people from Ethiopia who are fmeeing the Tigray confmict. Kassala and Gedaref states are dan’s currency ( Financial World 14/09/2020; Al Jazeera 11/09/2020 ). receiving most of the new arrivals (more than 26,000 refugees in Hamdayet and 11,000 in Ludgi and Abderafj) ( UNHCR 17/11/2020 ). Sudan is also a transit country for many mi - Economic crisis and political transition: Sudan is experiencing an economic crisis as a result grants from the Horn of Africa who are en route to Europe ( HRW accessed 11/11/2020 ). of endemic corruption and mismanagement of fjnances. Sudan possesses many econom - ically valuable natural minerals and raw materials, and its main exports are gold, live sheep
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