The number of refugees who have fled Sudan since the outbreak of civil war in 2023 has surpassed four million, the United Nations refugee agency announced on Tuesday, describing it as "the world's most damaging displacement crisis."

UN refugee agency spokesperson Eujin Byun revealed the grim milestone during a press briefing in Geneva, warning that the situation could further deteriorate if the conflict continues.

"Now in its third year, the 4 million people is a devastating milestone in what is the world's most damaging displacement crisis at the moment," Byun stated. "If the conflict continues in Sudan, thousands more people will continue to flee, putting regional and global stability at stake."

Sudan, which has been engulfed in violence since April 2023, shares borders with seven countries: Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Central African Republic, and Libya, making this a crisis with far-reaching regional implications.

Dire Conditions in Neighboring Countries

UNHCR Principal Situation Coordinator Dossou Patrice Ahouansou highlighted the particularly severe situation in Chad, which has received more than 800,000 refugees. Shelter conditions there are described as dire due to significant funding shortages, with only 14% of funding appeals having been met.

"This is an unprecedented crisis that we are facing. This is a crisis of humanity. This is a crisis of protection based on the violence that refugees are reporting," Ahouansou emphasized.

The situation represents one of the largest refugee crises in recent history, with humanitarian organizations struggling to provide adequate assistance due to limited resources and the continuing influx of displaced persons.

As the conflict enters its third year with no clear resolution in sight, humanitarian agencies are calling for increased international attention and support to address the growing needs of those displaced by the violence in Sudan.