The United Nations Refugee Agency has raised fresh concerns over a rising number of Sudanese refugees fleeing toward Europe, citing worsening humanitarian conditions and dwindling aid support in the region.
According to the UN, more than a thousand Sudanese have either reached or attempted to reach Europe in the first months of 2025 alone.
The surge reflects growing desperation among displaced populations affected by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The two-year war has displaced an estimated 12 million people, with UN officials describing the situation as the world’s most devastating humanitarian crisis. While some refugees have made their way back to Khartoum, millions remain in neighboring countries like Egypt and Chad, where critical services are now being scaled back.
This includes reductions in aid funding from the United States, currently under review.
UNHCR spokesperson Olga Sarrado told reporters at a briefing in Geneva that 484 Sudanese refugees arrived in Europe during January and February, a 38 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
She also noted that approximately 937 others were intercepted or rescued at sea and returned to Libya—more than double the number recorded in early 2024.
“As humanitarian aid crumbles and if the war does not abate, many more will have little choice than to join them,” Sarrado warned.
Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that migrant deaths reached record highs last year, with the perilous Mediterranean Sea route remaining one of the deadliest crossings in the world.
Human rights groups and aid agencies continue to call for urgent global intervention to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the worsening refugee crisis.
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