15.4M Sudanese need shelter as aid funding falls short

Two UN agencies have warned that 15.4 million people in Sudan urgently need emergency shelter and essential household supplies, but funding shortages are jeopardizing aid efforts.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that humanitarian organizations have enough resources to assist only 10% of those in need.

As of now, just 936,000 people have received aid, leaving millions without adequate shelter or basic necessities, according to the agencies.

The agencies also noted that emergency shelter stocks are running dangerously low and that without urgent funding, more displaced families will face harsh weather, insecurity, and increased risks of violence and exploitation.

Sudan remains the world’s largest displacement crisis, with approximately 8.6 million internally displaced and over 4.6 million having fled to neighboring countries.

More than 5.2 million people have returned to their areas of origin, though many find their homes, infrastructure, and essential services damaged or destroyed.

The agencies attributed continued displacement and restricted humanitarian operations to ongoing fighting, insecurity, and drone attacks.

The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requires $2.9 billion to assist 20.4 million people out of 33.7 million in need, but only about 47% of the required funding has been received.

UNHCR and IOM called for urgent, predictable, and flexible funding to maintain emergency shelter supplies and prevent further humanitarian deterioration.

Sudan has been in conflict since April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and millions of displaced people.