Concern plans response on Sudan/Chad border as non-Sudanese staff evacuated

The 10 staff left by boat from Port Sudan this afternoon and will be brought to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

A further 140 Sudanese staff remain in the country and are currently safe. Some are sheltering in their homes while others have moved to safer areas. Concern is providing security advice and keeping daily contact with them.

While the hostilities have forced the humanitarian organisation to evacuate its staff and suspend its work for the time being, Concern is planning to mobilise teams in Sudan and neighbouring Chad to assist thousands of people crossing the border to escape the fighting.

More than 20,000 people have crossed into Chad in the last fortnight and the UNHCR estimates that a further 100,000 could follow in the coming days.

The majority of those fleeing are women and children who are arriving with just the clothes on their backs and whatever they can carry. They urgently need food, water, shelter and sanitation.

Concern is also exploring all options to support programmes which have been temporarily suspended because of fighting. Its programmes include health, nutrition, water and sanitation, livelihoods and food security in West Darfur, West Kordofan and South Kordofan.