Khartoum:The United Nations has issued a warning that approximately 15.4 million people in Sudan are in urgent need of emergency shelter and essential household items. This includes millions who have chosen to return to their areas of origin amidst ongoing conflict.

According to Federation of Arab News Agencies, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have released a joint statement indicating that the conflict in Sudan, now in its fourth year, is exacerbating civilian suffering. The shifting front lines have forced more families to flee, leaving many without shelter and highlighting a severe funding shortfall.

The organizations have noted that due to financial constraints, humanitarian agencies can only prioritize assistance for 10 percent of those in need, resulting in a significant gap between the escalating needs and available resources. Deputy Representative of UNHCR in Sudan, Abubakarr Jalloh, pointed out that three out of every four displaced individuals are women and children. He also mentioned that the El Nino weather phenomenon has resulted in significantly less rainfall this year, adversely affecting harvests in Darfur, Kordofan, and other conflict-affected areas.

Sudan is dealing with the world's largest displacement crisis, yet its 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is severely underfunded, having received just 47 percent of the necessary $2.9 billion.