The spokesperson for the Libyan city of Kufra, Abdullah Suleiman, announced that the number of Sudanese refugees in the city has exceeded 15,000, according to the latest official statistics.
In an interview with Sudan News, Suleiman revealed that “the number of refugees now equals one-third of the city’s population,” highlighting the continued influx of Sudanese refugees since the outbreak of war in their country.
He noted that “the number of refugees is increasing as the conflict in Sudan expands, making Kufra the primary destination due to its proximity to the border.”
Suleiman also emphasized the need for more government support to address the health and environmental challenges posed by the refugee influx.
In the same context, Adam Regal, spokesperson for the Sudanese Refugee Coordination, appealed to the international community and global organizations to pay attention to the Sudanese refugees who have fled to Libya and other neighbouring countries.
He warned that “the escalating Sudanese war is devastating all aspects of essential services and infrastructure, as well as international organization centres and warehouses, leading to a significant food gap in Sudan and a rising number of refugees seeking asylum in neighbouring countries, especially Libya.”
Health statistics indicate that approximately 100 refugees in Kufra are infected with HIV/AIDS, 800 with hepatitis, and 100 with malaria out of the more than 15,000 refugees who have arrived in the city.
Recent reports from various media outlets have revealed satellite images showing that fire has been used as a weapon of war in Sudan, destroying hundreds of villages.
A satellite unit official in Sudan stated, “More than 50 Sudanese villages have been repeatedly burned, indicating forced displacement and war crimes.”
He added that “235 fires have been documented in towns and villages across Sudan since the war began, with Darfur experiencing significant violence.”
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also issued a warning from its mission in Sudan, stating that children have been under attack since the first day of this horrific conflict. UNICEF emphasized that Sudanese children need the world’s voice more than ever.
The war in Sudan began on April 15, 2023, between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) in various parts of Sudan, with most of the fighting concentrated in the capital, Khartoum.
The conflict has resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties and injuries.