Sudan is the African continent’s third largest country by area and has a population of 50million.
Violence and atrocities have escalated since April 2023 as the national army and former allies, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), battle it out for power .
As people flee the violence, rapes, and massacres, they seek refuge in other countries.
Sudan was once ruled over by the UK. In 1899 Egypt, who had been ruling the country, agreed to share sovereignty over Sudan with the United Kingdom as a condominium. In effect, Sudan was governed as a British possession. In reality it was the UK that came to control Sudan. Wealth and power were retained by the UK. This was to continue until 1956.
Today the nation of Sudan has land borders with
Some Sudanese people have come to live in the UK unsurprisingly given the UK’s colonial links with the country, and that English is one of the two official languages.
The number of asylum claimants receiving initial decisions in the UK, for the top ten nationalities, and the grant rate at initial decision (%), year ending June 2025
13 million people had to flee their homes when Civil War erupted in Sudan in 2023. Some of those people had previously had to flee from South Sudan, Northern Ethiopia, and Tigray – estimated total 1 million.
“If we lived in a just world, all nations would protect their citizens’ human rights. But that’s not our world. Refugees are just one result of injustice.
“Crucially, they didn’t cause their plight; rather, they are victims of profound injustice. Because their home nation cannot or will not protect even their basic human rights, they must migrate in search of protection.
“They are entitled to this protection, as all of us are, simply by virtue of being human.” – Patti Tamara Lenard
Half of Sudan’s population – some 25 million people – need humanitarian assistance and protection. The country is facing extreme shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel and more than half the population (25.6 million) are facing acute food insecurity, including 8.5 million of them at emergency levels.
It is the neighbouring countries who are taking in the vast majority of people fleeing from this horrific conflict.
“A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.” – 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
Throughout the world, 72% of all refugees flee to neighbouring countries – 1% come to the UK .
Where do people from Sudan flee to?
- Egypt 1.5 million
- Chad 773,662
- South Sudan 349,935
- Libya 256,000
- Uganda 72,125
- Ethiopia 43,159
- South Sudan, most of those arriving are returning nationals 744,412 who had been living in Sudan as refugees.
Reports from Sudan tell of widespread executions that have placed hundreds of thousands of people, including civilians and humanitarian workers, under significant threat. Homes, hospitals and markets have been destroyed, medical supplies are depleted, and access to humanitarian aid is severely constrained.
Persons with disabilities, and the most vulnerable, including women, children and the elderly are now facing extreme risks. There are also reports of persons with disabilities being executed because they were unable to flee.
‘This wave of violence is unbearable, and it particularly affects the most vulnerable people, especially those with disabilities.
“Don’t we say that no one should be left behind?
“As always, the consequences of these conflicts involve serious risks related to the development of disabilities due to war injuries, which, if not treated promptly, lead to permanent disabilities.
“There is an immense need for physical rehabilitation, protection and mental health care to deal with trauma.
“It is crucial that humanitarian aid is delivered without hindrance to the population in need’ – Vincent Dalonneau, HI Country Director for Sudan.
Here in the UK – and in Orkney – there has been a rise in posts on social media with a level of intolerance towards those who seek refuge in this country that are shameful. Partly they are based on ignorance about the actual numbers seeking to come here – but also it reflects a hatred of others who are suffering intolerable conditions in their own country. The numbers seeking refuge in the UK, a wealthy country, is very small, 1%.
For political gains, fear of Reform and its racist policies, the UK Government has embarked on a system which makes it even harder for people to find refuge here.
“We have a legal and moral obligation to protect people fleeing bombs, bullets and tyrants, and throughout history those people have enriched our society.” – Juliet Stevenson.
Fiona Grahame
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