GENEVA, Nov 8 (KUNA) -- The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Friday warned of a significant increase in the number of refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan, reaching 60,000. A record 60,000 people crossed into Chad in October 19 months after the outbreak of conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
Speaking at a press conference in Geneva following her visit to eastern Chad last week UNHCR's Director of External Relations Dominique Hyde described the humanitarian crisis resulting from the war in Sudan as having reached a "terrible stage" noting that women and children make up nearly 90 percent of the refugees.
Chad has become a "sanctuary" for Sudanese refugees whose now number reaches1.1 million, she said. This figure includes 700,000 refugees who have fled since the war began in April last year and another 400,000 who were in Chad before then.
She stressed that more than 3 million people have been forced to flee Sudan and seek safety in neighboring countries due to unprecedented violence atrocities and widespread human rights violations.
Hyde praised the efforts of neighboring countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan and the Central African Republic to provide security education and work opportunities to help refugees rebuild their lives.
She also drew attention to the immense humanitarian needs created by the continuing flow of refugees, which has put increasing pressure on neighbouring countries.
Hyde noted that the UN Humanitarian Response Plan has received only 29 percent of the funding.
Earlier this year, UNHCR launched a Regional Refugee Response Plan to raise USD 1.4 billion to assist 2.7 million people in Sudan's five neighboring countries, as part of a broader appeal by the UN and its partners seeking USD 4.1 billion to address humanitarian needs inside Sudan and in the surrounding region. (end) imk.hm