GENEVA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations (UN) agency, reported on Tuesday that more than 700,000 people have already been internally displaced by the fighting in Sudan. The number was more than doubled in the past week.
IOM spokesperson Paul Dillon said that "last Tuesday, the figure stood at 340,000. Prior to the fighting, an estimated 3.7 million people had already been internally displaced in Sudan."
He said that the number of internally displaced persons increased in several areas, including the capital, where clashes were continuing. "The IOM has stocks of non-food items in six warehouses around the country, but to date the organization has been unable to deliver to those in need."
"The fighting must end and humanitarians must be allowed to resume their work, providing assistance to those most in need before the situation spirals further out of control," he said.
Decisions to move were influenced by many different factors, the IOM said in a press release, including whether there was conflict in any given area. However, it was difficult for the people to find money, with cash distribution stalled, and the banking system, in effect, shut down. Fuel is also difficult to come by and expensive.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that 604 people had been killed and more than 5,000 injured since the violence erupted in mid-April between the rival armed factions, although the UN has repeatedly said the figures are likely to be an underestimate.
Armed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out on the morning of April 15. ■
