Field Operation

Sudan

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has persisted since the beginning of hostilities on 15th April 2023, resulting in widespread violence across various regions in Sudan, including Khartoum, Kordofan states, Darfur states, and Blue Nile state.  Alarming reports indicate indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure, including markets and hospitals, as well as widespread looting of homes, humanitarian facilities, and critical records from public institutions such as courts and land offices. These distressing trends highlight the breakdown of the rule of law and institutions to protect the civilian population, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The protection of civilians remains a significant concern, with reports of escalating use of sexual and gender-based violence, targeted attacks on - or harm against - civilians based on ethnicity, grave violations of children's rights, family separations, theft, extortion, and the threat posed by unexploded ordnances. Moreover, the closure of schools and limited access to social services have increased the vulnerability of children to recruitment or association with armed groups.

intro
Sudan

Protection Issues

It is imperative that stakeholders responsible for violations of International Law, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law are held accountable. The protection risks requiring immediate attention are: attacks on civilians and other unlawful killings and attacks on civilian infrastructure; gender-based and conflict related sexual violence; theft, extortion, looting, and destruction of public and personal property; forced child separation compounded by children’s exposure to violence, abuse and neglect, including alleged forced recruitment and trafficking and presence of mines and other explosive ordnances. All parties to the conflict should allow for safe, secure, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access at all times. 

Sudan

Cluster Operation

The Protection Cluster in Sudan was activated to ensure the coordination of protection interventions in emergencies and to respond to the protection needs of persons affected by conflict and disasters. It is composed of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Area of Responsibility (AoR), the Child Protection (CP) Area of Responsibility (AoR), the Mine Action (MA) Area of Responsibility (AoR) and a Housing, Land, and Property Area of Responsibility (HLP AoR). The Protection Cluster is led and co-coordinated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and co-coordinated by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). 

shape 1

Protection Cluster Team

Sriskun Watanasab

Senior Protection Cluster Coordinator
UNHCR
Mail: [email protected]

Muhammet Kalai

Protection Sector Co-Coordinator
DRC
Mail: [email protected]

Claude Muhinda

Associate Information Management Officer
UNHCR
Mail: [email protected]

Carmine Nael Gorgees

Cluster Information Management Specialist
DRC
Mail: [email protected]

Latest Publications