Sudan: The United Nations refugee agency has stated that the ongoing conflict in Sudan may cause over 800,000 people to flee the country, including Sudanese citizens and thousands of existing refugees who are currently residing there.

The estimate provided by the agency includes around 580,000 Sudanese, while the rest are refugees who have settled in the country.

“In consultation with all concerned governments and partners, we’ve arrived at a planning figure of 815,000 people that may flee into the seven neighbouring countries,” Mr. Raouf Mazou, UNHCR assistant high commissioner for refugees, told a member-state briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.

Some 73,000 have already left Sudan, Mr. Mazou added.

UNHCR chief Mr. Filippo Grandi later remarked that the planning figure was indicative. “We hope it doesn’t come to that, but if violence doesn’t stop, we will see more people forced to flee Sudan seeking safety,” Mr. Grandi posted on Twitter.

The conflict between Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo erupted on April 15, and it has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries.

The situation has caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with millions of Sudanese unable to afford the high prices required to flee the fighting. They have taken refuge in their homes with limited access to food, water, and electricity. Aid organisations, including the UN, have reduced their services, but the World Food Program has resumed operations in more secure areas after staff were killed at the outset of the conflict.

WORLD ROUNDUP: Drone strike causes fire at oil depot in Russian-controlled Crimea