UN warns millions displaced in Sudan risk losing shelter as aid funds run low
Millions of people displaced by Sudan's war are at risk of losing access to emergency shelter as humanitarian funding runs short and aid stocks are being depleted, according to a joint warning from the UN refugee agency and the International Organization for Migration. The agencies said 15.4 million people across Sudan urgently need emergency shelter and basic household items. They said current resources mean humanitarian groups can prioritise only about 10 percent of those in need.
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The statement said only 936,000 people have received assistance so far, leaving a wide gap between needs and available support. The agencies said they are trying to maintain supply pipelines, pre-position emergency stocks in priority areas and deliver aid where needs are greatest. But they warned that these efforts cannot continue without predictable and flexible funding.
The warning comes as Sudan's civil war, which began in 2023 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, continues to drive displacement on a massive scale. The UN says about 8.6 million people have been displaced inside the country, while more than 4.6 million have crossed borders. More than 5.2 million people have also returned to their areas of origin, often to find homes, infrastructure and basic services destroyed.
The agencies said shelter is not only a practical need but also a basic protection issue, especially for women, children and others at heightened risk. For families repeatedly uprooted by conflict, a safe place to sleep and basic household supplies can provide a measure of safety and dignity. For people returning home, shelter assistance is often the first step toward rebuilding their lives.
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From Khartoum, IOM Sudan chief Mohamed Refaat said the agency was struggling to keep operations going as resources dwindled. He said IOM had distributed more than 40,000 tonnes this year, but that its warehouses were now completely empty. He also warned that the number of internally displaced people could rise again despite recent returns, underscoring how fragile the situation remains.
What remains unclear is how quickly additional funding might arrive and whether agencies will be able to restock emergency supplies before more families are left without shelter. The UN agencies did not give a timeline for when the shortfall might ease. For now, the warning points to a widening humanitarian gap in a conflict that has already created the world's largest displacement crisis.
