Sudan

Summary of Needs

The protection situation in Sudan has sharply deteriorated over the past year due to expanding conflict, widespread violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL), and increasing insecurity. Areas receiving large numbers of IDPs face growing protection challenges as needs outstrip local response capacities. Weak governance, the breakdown of the rule of law and consequent impunity have fuelled unchecked protection violations, with ethnic tensions exacerbated by ongoing mobilization of civilians. People with disabilities, survivors of violence, and those experiencing family separation face additional barriers to accessing services, worsened by humanitarian access constraints, security risks affecting frontline responders and damaged facilities. There are 11.7 million people who urgently need protection services to mitigate violence risks and rebuild their lives.

Response Strategy

Since the start of the conflict in April 2023, over 12 million civilians have been displaced due to indiscriminate attacks, forced recruitment, and sexual violence. The Protection Cluster and its Areas of Responsibility (AoRs) focus on effective protection responses through continuous monitoring, data-driven needs analysis, advocacy, and collaboration with local actors and civil society to facilitate informed community-based response activities. The Cluster addresses IHL and IHRL violations via legal aid and advocacy aligned with the HCT Protection Strategy. The Cluster emphasizes community-based approaches through ongoing capacity building for frontline responders and advocacy for flexible funding, while ensuring access to specialized services through thematic and tailored training for Cluster partners and strengthened referral pathways to health and MHPSS services.

Targeting and Prioritization

Priority areas are identified using the Protection Cluster severity scale for localities that are experiencing acute displacement and deteriorating protection environments, as well as hotspot mapping for areas affected by prolonged conflict, or at heightened risk of inter-communal violence. A key Cluster priority is to ensure that vulnerable host community members and other affected populations with protection needs have equitable access to protection services. Prioritization also considers the protection impacts of seasonal flood risks and other factors, including displacement, loss of assets and barriers to accessing basic services. Protection activities aim to reduce vulnerability and prioritize support for those who remain vulnerable, both through direct assistance and establishing systematic identification and referral mechanisms for individuals with specific needs, while addressing barriers to accessing services and complementary support.

Cost of Response

The cost of the planned response by Protection Cluster in 2025 is $73 million. Protection activities predominantly revolve around service provision, which can entail relatively higher costs due to the imperative for skilled personnel, sustained implementation and ongoing protection monitoring, capacity building, supervision and quality assurance. There is also a need to re-establish humanitarian service provision facilities that have been destroyed in conflict-affected areas. It should be noted that the increased outreach component envisaged for 2025, together with the expanded operationalization of multi-purpose community centres, will not only benefit the Protection Cluster response, but will also expand the access of the affected population to all sectors making use of these points for information dissemination and identification of people in need of their services.