Red Cross Supports Crisis in Sudan

It is almost a year since the complex emergency began in the Republic of Sudan, leaving more than 13,400 people dead and millions forced from their homes. The conflict has caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, and the American Red Cross is contributing $325,000 to assist the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) with providing humanitarian assistance.

The SRCS has been actively helping since the onset of the crisis. Sudan is a country in Northeast Africa, bordered by the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya and South Sudan. The country has a population of more than 45 million people. Reports indicate more than nine million people are displaced, including nearly 2.2 million children.

The armed clashes in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), began on April 15, 2023, with gunfire and an explosion in Khartoum. Since then, thousands have been injured, health concerns are growing with an outbreak of as many as 10,000 cases of cholera, there are shortages of food and shelter ─ all indicating an urgent need for comprehensive humanitarian aid in the country.

RED CROSS RESPONSE The Sudanese Red Crescent Society is present and operational across the country in all the 18 States branches. Since the onset, SRCS has mobilized staff and over 8,000 volunteers to support the people affected by the violence. Sudanese Red Crescent Society volunteers have been deployed, focusing on evacuations, family reunification, first aid and psychological support. They've supported health facilities and Restoring Family Links services in 15 locations. Other branches are maintaining readiness activities with up to 20 active volunteers per branch.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been helping people in Sudan for more than 40 years. Currently they are supporting hospitals and health facilities with equipment and supplies, working with local water authorities on improving people’s access to clean water, and supporting the authorities who provide rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. The ICRC is also helping families separated by conflict or displacement keep in touch with their loved ones and has facilitated the release of some detainees.

With the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), SRCS has supported almost 50,000 displaced persons with essential needs for shelter and basic living. Approximately 298,364 non-food items have been distributed across the nine most affected states. These include tents, tarpaulins, toolkits, blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets and solar lanterns.

The IFRC has issued a Revised Emergency Appeal for 40 million Swiss francs to support up to 800,000 people affected by the situation in Sudan. The appeal focuses on shelter; livelihoods and basic needs; multi-purpose cash; health; water, sanitation, and hygiene; migration; protection, gender and inclusion; and community engagement and accountability.

The American Red Cross is contributing $325,000 to the IFRC emergency appeal to assist the Sudanese Red Crescent Society with cash and voucher assistance programming and local logisitic capacities to deliver humanitarian assistance.

Learn more here about the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and how the different factions work together as part of the world’s largest humanitarian network.