Sudan: Humanitarian Situation in Wad Medani, Aj Jazirah State - Flash Update No. 01 (As of 16 January 2025)
HIGHLIGHTS
- On 11 January, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced that it had retaken Wad Medani, Aj Jazirah State, which had been under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since late December 2023.
- The priority needs of the people are food, water, as well as sanitation, hygiene, health and protection services.
- The conflict has damaged or destroyed public infrastructure, including the main hospital in Wad Medani.
- There are initial reports of people returning to their homes, exposing their lives to unexploded ordnance. Nevertheless, returnees will require assistance to rebuild their lives.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
SAF announced on 11 January that it retook Wad Medani, the capital of Aj Jazirah State, from the control of the RSF, paving the way for the humanitarian community to assist for the first time people in need since December 2023.
Many people have lost their homes and livelihoods due to the conflict that has damaged or destroyed public infrastructure such as markets, water and health-care facilities in the state. Most basic services, including water and electricity, are unavailable. These will need to be restored as people return to their homes.
According to humanitarian partners, only 30 per cent of Wad Medani’s population remains, mainly women, children and the elderly. Gender-based violence has also been reported.
Wad Medani is a key agricultural and economic hub, known for producing crops such as cotton, wheat, sorghum and vegetables, but farmers in many areas missed the planting season due to the conflict.
In October 2024, renewed conflict caused widespread displacement including secondary displacement of people from Khartoum, according to the International Organization of Migration (IOM). By the end of 2024, 434,000 people had been displaced from Wad Medani to 15 states in Sudan, with the majority seeking refuge in Gedaref, River Nile, Kassala and other parts of Aj Jazirah (IOM).
As of 8 January 2025, Aj Jazirah State was hosting about 275,000 displaced people across eight localities, according to IOM.
HUMANITAIRAN IMPACT AND NEEDS
The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in Al Managil in Aj Jazirah State met with humanitarians operating in Aj Jazirah on 11 January to plan urgent interventions in the west of the state, including Al Managil, Al Qurashi, El Hosh area in Janub Aj Jazirah, Um Algura and Medani Al Kubra localities.
Initial reports point to heavy unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination. According to HAC, five children died due to explosions - three in Al Sharif Yagoub and two in Al Kamar areas. UXO awareness messages need to be disseminated urgently.
The main hospital in Wad Medani has been damaged and is currently not functional. Pharmacies have been looted and there is a shortage of essential drugs and medicines.
The affected people need urgent assistance to rebuild their lives – their priority needs are food, water as well as sanitation and hygiene, health, nutrition and protection services.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Preparations are underway for a rapid assessment to assess the needs. The Inter-Cluster Coordination Group is reaching out to all available partners on the ground or in the surrounding areas to assess their response capacity and the possibility of reprogramming their activities. The logistics cluster has also reached out to partners to organize an inter-agency convoy, which would be joined by a technical team including protection experts, to provide initial aid to the people and assess their needs.
Community kitchens have been set up to provide food to the vulnerable people.
An Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) team was deployed to Wad Medani on 16 January to assess vaccination storage and evaluate the damage sustained.
The United National Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has mobilized and scaled up interventions to ensure humanitarian workers can respond in safe conditions.