Sudan’s Interior Minister Babiker Samra told UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Thursday that more than 10 million people are internally displaced across the country.
The two officials met on the sidelines of the UNHCR Executive Committee meetings in Geneva, discussing the current humanitarian situation in Sudan and ways to strengthen cooperation in supporting displaced persons, returnees, and refugees in neighboring countries.
Minister Samra outlined the immense challenges Sudan faces as a result of the war waged by the rebel militia and its devastating consequences, noting that the country is now witnessing the world’s largest internal displacement crisis.
He welcomed the voluntary return of more than two million people to areas recaptured by government forces, including the capital, Gezira, and Sennar states, affirming the government’s commitment to ensuring safe and dignified returns and facilitating humanitarian access.
He called for expanding UNHCR’s support to include capacity building for national institutions and assistance for reconstruction and basic services.
Grandi, for his part, said Sudan has remained a top priority for the UNHCR over the past decade. He praised the new government’s cooperation in opening humanitarian corridors and facilitating the work of UN agencies, and expressed his wish to visit Sudan soon to highlight the humanitarian situation and support government efforts toward stability.
Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to continued coordination and joint efforts to find sustainable solutions that ease the suffering of the Sudanese people and promote stability in Sudan and the region.
