Situation in Sudan (per 27 June)

  • United Nations human rights experts warned that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) use starvation as a weapon of war amidst warnings of an imminent famine. 
  • 25 million civilians in Sudan are in danger of starvation due to “blocking, looting and exploiting humanitarian assistance” said UN experts, adding that local initiatives to address hunger are challenged by violence and targeting of civil society organisations and their staff members.
  • More than half of 24 million Sudanese children urgently need humanitarian assistance, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, adding that nearly 17 million are currently out of school.
  • Nearly 9 million children face acute food insecurity, and about 4 million aged under five suffer from acute malnutrition, with 730,000 at imminent risk of dying, according to UNICEF.
  • RSF intensified attacks on El Fasher, North Darfur, this week hitting Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons. At least five civilians were reportedly killed in Abu Shouk camp and more were injured. Grand Market and the police chief’s office were also among planned targets.
  • Iqra Hospital in El Fasher has also been hit by RSF artillery causing further strains to the already collapsing health care situation in the city.
  • The last remaining centre for dialysis patients in El Fasher was attacked by RSF causing severe damage to parts of the building and equipment.

Situation in Ethiopia (per 27 June)

  • A large demonstration was held on 25 June in Mekelle organised by Tigray women protesting against gender-based violence, rape, and kidnapping and demanding justice for victims.
  • The demonstrators marched from Romanat Square to the office of the Tigray Interim Administration meeting  the head of the regional justice bureau, Hadush Tesfa. He acknowledged the plea of the women promising to work  “towards maintaining law and order and bringing perpetrators to justice”.
  • A cholera outbreak in Amhara region has caused five deaths and over 500 infections, with 11 individuals currently receiving treatment. The outbreak has impacted multiple districts and cities since April.
  • The office of the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, warned of a fake message that has been circulating on social media stating that Ethiopia withdraws from the Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland.

Situation in Eritrea (per 27 June)

  • Eritrean President, Isaias Afwerki, received an Italian delegation led by the Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso. Among various bilateral relations, the Italian delegation discussed potential strengthening of infrastructure, road and rail connection between Massawa and Asmara.

Regional Situation (per 27 June)

  • Kenyan president, William Ruto, did not sign a new finance bill that aimed to introduce higher taxes. His decision comes after a series of violent protests that broke out in the past days in Nairobi as well as other cities in Kenya.
  • The controversial bill won approval in the Kenyan parliament on Tuesday, however, some of the protesters stormed into the complex and parts of the parliament were set on fire and burned for hours. This was condemned by president Ruto.
  • At least 22 people were killed in Tuesday’s protest and many more injured. About 50 persons have been reportedly arrested but exact numbers have been difficult to verify. Police used live ammunition, tear gas as well as water cannons to disperse the crowds.
  • Protests continue in the streets of Nairobi today even after Ruto’s withdrawal from the financial bill.
  • Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, the Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations, accused Ethiopian forces of illegally crossing the border with Somalia.
  • His statement comes after Ethiopian troops reportedly entered Somalia to monitor threats from Al-Shabaab during the weekend and returned back the next day.
  • Ethiopia refused the statement by Somalia calling the accusations “baseless”. Ambassador Nebiyu Tedla, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia confirmed that Ethiopian troops carried out their usual tasks which fall under the bilateral agreement between the two countries.

Refugee and Migration Situation (per 27 June)

  • Libyan coast guard officials were seen to physically assault a group of refugees and migrants that have been rescued  by a merchant ship in the Mediterranean Sea. Guard officials used clubs to hit people, which was captured on video footage published by an NGO Sea Watch.
  • As Hungary is preparing to take over the rotating Presidency of the European Union on 1 July, the topic of migration will be one of the key focus areas to be addressed, said Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian Prime Minister.
  • Orbán welcomed the vision of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to outsource asylum procedures to third countries outside the European Union.
  • Over 600,000 Sudanese refugees and 180,000 returnees, mostly women and children, have entered Chad, since the start of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, overwhelming existing resources and creating dire living conditions, according to UNHCR.
  • Despite efforts to establish new refugee settlements, one-third of the new arrivals remain in difficult conditions along the border areas. UNHCR issued an urgent warning to scale up humanitarian response as the upcoming rainy season and escalating security incidents further threaten the situation.
  • Ursula Von Der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said that she will be ready to prioritise migration in the next term, while focusing on the external dimension of the EU’s migration policies and considering options for outsourcing asylum procedures to the countries outside Europe.

Links of interest
Sudan’s warring factions using starvation as weapon, experts say

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell warns of a deepening crisis for children following a visit to Sudan

Child Hunger In Sudan Almost Doubles In Six Months With Three In Every Four Children Affected

RSF continued shelling in El-Fasher kills civilians, targets another hospital

Renewed RSF shelling in North Darfur

Darfur’s ‘only dialysis centre’ hit by RSF

Sennar at risk of partial encirclement

Women in Tigray took to the street to protest gender-based violence in the region

Ethiopia Warns Against Misinformation on Somaliland MoU

Cholera outbreak in #Ethiopia’s #Amhara region claims five lives

Kenya’s president withdraws tax plan after deadly protest

Kenya protesters storm parliament, set sections on fire

Death toll rises to 22 a day after Kenyan protesters stormed parliament

News: Amid souring relations Somalia accuses Ethiopian troops of unlawful crossings, urges respect for

Somalia accuses Ethiopian troops of ‘illegal’ incursion

#Ethiopia dismisses #Somalia’s accusation of unilateral military action and illegal border crossings as ‘baseless’

Libyan coast guard officials hit migrants, Sea Watch says

Orbán: Migration will be the focus of the Hungarian presidency

UNHCR urges support to address urgent needs of Sudanese refugees at Chad border

Von der Leyen assures EU leaders external dimension of migration key priority next term

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