IOM’s 2025 Crisis Response Plan for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries will save and protect the lives of people affected by the brutal war in Sudan, and will build resilience in the region for those in continued displacement, with an evidence-based approach to address the myriad and severe humanitarian and protection concerns. To amplify these efforts, IOM will provide technical and logistical support to other response actors, focusing on local actors, with the intention of enhancing the quality of assistance and capacity to assist hard-to-reach areas where needs severity is most acute.

The ongoing conflict that began on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to have devastating consequences for millions of civilians in Sudan, with 30.4 million people estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2025, an increase of 6.6 million from 2024 projections (24.8 million) (Sudan HRP 2025).
Moving into 2025, Sudan is the largest displacement crisis in the world. As of 15 October 2024, IOM estimates that Sudan hosts an approximate 10.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), with 8.2 million having been displaced since the outbreak of conflict (IOM Sudan, October 2024). This is in addition to an estimated 830,000 refugees who had been displaced within Sudan prior to April 2023 and continue to reside in Sudan.
Access to essential services is becoming particularly acute due to the destruction of critical infrastructure and a complex range of access constraints. In this context, as the result of the continual deterioration of food security, on 1 August 2024 the conflict reached a disparaging milestone with the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee confirming the presence of famine conditions in Zamzam camp, North Darfur, with other IDP camps in the state identified as likely also experiencing famine conditions (FEWSNET, August 2024).
In addition, a severe humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in areas of displacement in neighbouring countries, which as of October 2024 are hosting over 3.
The ongoing conflict that began on 15 April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to have devastating consequences for millions of civilians in Sudan, with 30.4 million people estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2025, an increase of 6.6 million from 2024 projections (24.8 million) (Sudan HRP 2025).
Moving into 2025, Sudan is the largest displacement crisis in the world. As of 15 October 2024, IOM estimates that Sudan hosts an approximate 10.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), with 8.2 million having been displaced since the outbreak of conflict (IOM Sudan, October 2024). This is in addition to an estimated 830,000 refugees who had been displaced within Sudan prior to April 2023 and continue to reside in Sudan.
Access to essential services is becoming particularly acute due to the destruction of critical infrastructure and a complex range of access constraints. In this context, as the result of the continual deterioration of food security, on 1 August 2024 the conflict reached a disparaging milestone with the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Famine Review Committee confirming the presence of famine conditions in Zamzam camp, North Darfur, with other IDP camps in the state identified as likely also experiencing famine conditions (FEWSNET, August 2024).
In addition, a severe humanitarian crisis continues to unfold in areas of displacement in neighbouring countries, which as of October 2024 are hosting over 3.1 million individuals who have left Sudan in search of safety and access to basic essential services. Of those who have fled Sudan, 71% (2.2 million) are Sudanese nationals and 29% (916,000) are of other nationalities. Since April 2024, the majority of arrivals have been reported in Egypt (39%), Chad (28%), and South Sudan (27%); with new arrivals often arriving in areas with already compromised access to essential services and a unique set of integration concerns.
Furthermore, the people in Sudan and those fleeing to neighbouring countries are facing a protection crisis, with women, girls, and vulnerable men and boys experiencing the worst consequences. Violations and needs such as family separation, alerts of trafficking, conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV), have put significant strains on existing weak protection structures with limited services available.
The complex humanitarian situation and the mixed nature of the movements out of Sudan call for a contextually relevant, conflict sensitive and needs-based response driven by strong coordination efforts within countries, regionally and internationally with relevant entities in countries of origin. Building on IOM’s work in 2023 and 2024, IOM's CRP aims to address the broad range of humanitarian needs and the complexities of mixed movements that is inclusive of the needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), migrant returnees, Third Country Nationals (TCNs), host communities, and refugees.
Within this, IOM looks to continue and expand efforts made in 2024 to support cross-border logistics and the localization of interventions, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, as well as resilience building efforts for those continually affected by the ongoing conflict.
The interventions outlined in this CRP are in line with and complementary to the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs), as well as the 2025 Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) coordinated by UNHCR.
At the country level, IOM engages and coordinates closely with national and local Governments, Resident / Humanitarian Coordinators and Humanitarian Country Teams, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UNHCR and key partners to ensure the effective delivery of assistance to all people in need affected by the conflict: internally displaced, refugees, returnees to the neighbouring countries and other non-Sudanese fleeing the war, and host communities across the region.
In Sudan, IOM will continue to build on a robust network of implementing partners (IPs) and local partners, in support of key cluster operations. This includes management of the common Non-Food Items pipeline which serves over 80 organizations in hard-to-reach areas, and also management of the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) which provides small grants to local partners to facilitate rapid implementation of lifesaving and multi-sectoral projects.
In all countries, IOM participates in the key coordination forums that are in place: Humanitarian Country Teams (HCT), Inter-Cluster Coordination Groups (ICCG), and the relevant clusters and/or sectors and working groups (Shelter and Non-Food Items, Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Logistics, Health, WASH, Access, Cash, Site Management).
Responses in all neighbouring countries will support each Government’s response to the crisis, where IOM will continue to work closely with partners, including UN agencies, international and local organizations, civil society, and government counterparts. IOM holds key coordination positions including:
- IOM Sudan co-leads with UNHCR the Counter Trafficking and Mixed Migration Working Group; and co-leads with UNDP the Peacebuilding Pillar of the UN Common Approach. IOM is a key contributor to the Access and Cash Working Groups, and manages the common Non-Food Items pipeline in service of the Shelter and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Clusters.
The interventions outlined in this CRP are in line with and complementary to the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs), as well as the 2025 Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) coordinated by UNHCR.
At the country level, IOM engages and coordinates closely with national and local Governments, Resident / Humanitarian Coordinators and Humanitarian Country Teams, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UNHCR and key partners to ensure the effective delivery of assistance to all people in need affected by the conflict: internally displaced, refugees, returnees to the neighbouring countries and other non-Sudanese fleeing the war, and host communities across the region.
In Sudan, IOM will continue to build on a robust network of implementing partners (IPs) and local partners, in support of key cluster operations. This includes management of the common Non-Food Items pipeline which serves over 80 organizations in hard-to-reach areas, and also management of the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) which provides small grants to local partners to facilitate rapid implementation of lifesaving and multi-sectoral projects.
In all countries, IOM participates in the key coordination forums that are in place: Humanitarian Country Teams (HCT), Inter-Cluster Coordination Groups (ICCG), and the relevant clusters and/or sectors and working groups (Shelter and Non-Food Items, Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Logistics, Health, WASH, Access, Cash, Site Management).
Responses in all neighbouring countries will support each Government’s response to the crisis, where IOM will continue to work closely with partners, including UN agencies, international and local organizations, civil society, and government counterparts. IOM holds key coordination positions including:
- IOM Sudan co-leads with UNHCR the Counter Trafficking and Mixed Migration Working Group; and co-leads with UNDP the Peacebuilding Pillar of the UN Common Approach. IOM is a key contributor to the Access and Cash Working Groups, and manages the common Non-Food Items pipeline in service of the Shelter and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Clusters.
- IOM Chad coordinates with UNHCR and the Chadian government as the lead of the humanitarian response to Chadian returnees from Sudan. IOM is the co-lead of the inter-agency cash and markets working group for the Sudan response and also manages a humanitarian hub at Farchana near the Sudanese border as a common service to partners to facilitate cross-border operations into Darfur.
- IOM South Sudan coordinates the inter-agency Response Plan for the Sudan Crisis with UNHCR, through which it leads the response to TCNs and co-leads the response to returnees. In addition, IOM leads the Shelter – Non-Food Item (S-NFI) Cluster, CCCM Cluster, co-chairs the National PSEA Taskforce and the Cash Working Group, and co-leads the National Housing, Land and Property Area of Responsibility.
- IOM Libya co-leads the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) where it leads the collective migration management outcomes, and is also co-lead for the SNFI taskforce with relation to the Sudan response.
- IOM Ethiopia leads the S-NFI cluster and co-leads the CCCM cluster with UNHCR.
- IOM Egypt co-chairs the PSEA network, the Migration and Protection working group, the Mixed Migration working group, and the joint platform for migrants and refugees.
Since the outbreak in conflict in April 2023 IOM has successfully adapted and expanded already existing operations and programmes throughout Sudan and neighbouring countries in order to provide integrated and life-saving humanitarian assistance for those on the move. With a total of 3,944 staff and 43 sub and field offices across Sudan and her neighbouring countries, as well as non-static presence in other areas of implementation, IOM is well positioned to further build on this broad geographic footprint moving into 2025.
In Sudan, IOM has been operational since 2000 and continues to play a pivotal role in the humanitarian landscape with six operational offices (in Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref, Atbara, Wadi Halfa and Kadugli) and a significant presence across all states. The organization operates three Migrant Resource and Response Centres (MRRC) in Gedaref, Kassala, and the Red Sea, with plans to establish an additional MRRC in Dongola, Northern state, and also is the lead agency of the UN hub in Atbara. IOM also runs a Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC) in Kassala and deploys four mobile clinics in key states to enhance health access. As of October 2024, IOM Sudan has 262 staff members and 500 hourly/affiliated staff.
Further, in Sudan, IOM leads humanitarian efforts in some of the most underserved regions, with IOM one of few UN agencies with a presence in Abyei PCA North and it’s common humanitarian pipeline supporting emergency relief distribution to partners, with a network of six warehouses totaling 5,406 m². IOM is now actively expanding it’s warehouse capacity and scaling cross-border operations to meet rising humanitarian needs.
Across Sudan’s neighouring countries, building on IOM’s already existing expertise in humanitarian, migration, peacebuilding and development implementation, since April 2023 IOM has successfully adapted and expanded their footprint in areas of cross-border displacement in order to address both immediate and longer-term needs for new arrivals and for those now facing continued displacement. In neighbouring countries IOM has a total of 2,946 staff, 12 field or sub-offices in areas of cross-border displacement which provides broad operational coverage in areas of displacement, and with specific reference to the Sudanese caseload has; four (MHACs), three transit centres, three MRRC’s, two displacement sites, and one humanitarian hub.
Since the outbreak in conflict in April 2023 IOM has successfully adapted and expanded already existing operations and programmes throughout Sudan and neighbouring countries in order to provide integrated and life-saving humanitarian assistance for those on the move. With a total of 3,944 staff and 43 sub and field offices across Sudan and her neighbouring countries, as well as non-static presence in other areas of implementation, IOM is well positioned to further build on this broad geographic footprint moving into 2025.
In Sudan, IOM has been operational since 2000 and continues to play a pivotal role in the humanitarian landscape with six operational offices (in Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref, Atbara, Wadi Halfa and Kadugli) and a significant presence across all states. The organization operates three Migrant Resource and Response Centres (MRRC) in Gedaref, Kassala, and the Red Sea, with plans to establish an additional MRRC in Dongola, Northern state, and also is the lead agency of the UN hub in Atbara. IOM also runs a Migration Health Assessment Centre (MHAC) in Kassala and deploys four mobile clinics in key states to enhance health access. As of October 2024, IOM Sudan has 262 staff members and 500 hourly/affiliated staff.
Further, in Sudan, IOM leads humanitarian efforts in some of the most underserved regions, with IOM one of few UN agencies with a presence in Abyei PCA North and it’s common humanitarian pipeline supporting emergency relief distribution to partners, with a network of six warehouses totaling 5,406 m². IOM is now actively expanding it’s warehouse capacity and scaling cross-border operations to meet rising humanitarian needs.
Across Sudan’s neighouring countries, building on IOM’s already existing expertise in humanitarian, migration, peacebuilding and development implementation, since April 2023 IOM has successfully adapted and expanded their footprint in areas of cross-border displacement in order to address both immediate and longer-term needs for new arrivals and for those now facing continued displacement. In neighbouring countries IOM has a total of 2,946 staff, 12 field or sub-offices in areas of cross-border displacement which provides broad operational coverage in areas of displacement, and with specific reference to the Sudanese caseload has; four (MHACs), three transit centres, three MRRC’s, two displacement sites, and one humanitarian hub.
IOM has also successfully expanded the capacity of the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) which provides both real-time data on displacement and through an extensive network of enumerators provides essential and regular evidence, conducting both key informant and household-based assessments. In Sudan, IOM has a network of 500 enumerators and over 7,000 informants, with IOM also having cross-border displacement tracking capacity in six of the seven neighbouring countries, a network that will be further strengthened in 2025.
Institutionally, the crisis has the full attention and resources from IOM both at the headquarters level and through it’s Regional Offices in Cairo, Nairobi and Dakar; through which IOM provides multi-thematic technical support for implementation as well as liaison with host governments, partners, and donors to ensure coordinated implementation at all levels.
IOM works closely with local and national authorities across the response to ensure the implementation of assistance is well targeted and reaching people in need; the development of policy and mechanisms that can protect the rights of crisis-affected persons; and the technical and operational capacity is built in order to ensure continued humane, dignified and quality support to affected persons.
In Sudan, IOM will continue to work with the authorities in Port Sudan including the Sudanese Border Guards headquarters, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, the State Water Corporations, and the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) to coordinate interventions. IOM will strive to deliver life-saving assistance to people in need wherever they are across Sudan. In neighbouring countries IOM will coordinate with the relevant authorities on assistance to and resilience for those fleeing the conflict in Sudan, and their host communities.
To support the facilitation of safe channels for regular migration, IOM will provide technical and operational support to officials at land and air borders in order to strengthen emergency preparedness and outbreak control; prevent counter trafficking and enhance screening and service provision to Victims of Trafficking; and support the safe, dignified and humane movement through for those on the move through humanitarian border management support.
IOM will continue to engage closely with authorities in Sudan and neighbouring countries in the provision of movement assistance to internal and international migrants, including third-country nationals, who have been left stranded by the conflict. Movement assistance includes evacuations; voluntary relocation, return and repatriation; and family reunification. Assistance will be coordinated through consular engagement, liaison, and direct support between both the host country and country of origin.












IOM will prioritise the expansion and capacity of an already comprehensive network of local and national actors across Sudan and its neighbouring countries. Of particular relevance to this context, IOM recognizes local actors as providing critical local expertise and knowledge in informing and delivering quality programming; as essential actors for ensuring meaningful and impactful participation in communities; and important first line responders in enabling access to remote and hard-to-reach areas. As such, and as a signatory to the Grand Bargain, IOM is committed to streamlining localization through its humanitarian, early recovery and migration programming.
In Sudan, amidst ongoing conflict and access constraints, IOM will continue to engage with National Non-Governmental Organizations (N-NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to deliver humanitarian assistance through the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) that facilitates small grants to local partners in order to facilitate the rapid implementation of lifesaving and multi-sectoral projects.
IOM will prioritise the expansion and capacity of an already comprehensive network of local and national actors across Sudan and its neighbouring countries. Of particular relevance to this context, IOM recognizes local actors as providing critical local expertise and knowledge in informing and delivering quality programming; as essential actors for ensuring meaningful and impactful participation in communities; and important first line responders in enabling access to remote and hard-to-reach areas. As such, and as a signatory to the Grand Bargain, IOM is committed to streamlining localization through its humanitarian, early recovery and migration programming.
In Sudan, amidst ongoing conflict and access constraints, IOM will continue to engage with National Non-Governmental Organizations (N-NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to deliver humanitarian assistance through the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) that facilitates small grants to local partners in order to facilitate the rapid implementation of lifesaving and multi-sectoral projects. RRF projects have previously covered S-NFI, WASH, Health, Protection, and logistics, and actively supported women-led local organizations. Recognizing that significant front-line response is being delivered through informal networks in Sudan, including the Emergency Response Rooms, IOM will identify 'mentor' organizations to allow RRF funds to be channeled in support of these localized efforts.
Further, IOM will look to expand its common humanitarian pipeline, established in 2021, which supports emergency relief distribution to 80 partners, with already a network of six warehouses totaling 5,406 m².
Throughout its implementation across Sudan and neighbouring countries, and particularly when implementing early recovery assistance in areas of protracted displacement, IOM will ensure a community and area-based approach that allows responses to be designed, implemented, and monitored around the local context. This approach also empowers communities, strengthens support networks, and fosters better recovery outcomes. Central to this approach, is IOM’s cross-cutting commitment to conflict sensitivity, for which Sudan has a dedicated analyst.
IOM recognizes that strengthening the capacity of local organizations is essential in ensuring long-term and sustainable service delivery that can lead to positive protection outcomes and facilitate durable solutions. To this end, IOM will continue to endeavour to support the technical and institutional capacity of through a collaborative approach throughout its activities. Approaches to helping local organizations strengthen key functions, such as financial management and administration, will also be built upon.
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Objective 1Saving lives
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Objective 2Solutions to displacement
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Objective 3Pathways for regular migration
Saving lives and protecting people on the move

Within a context of dire humanitarian conditions, severe protection concerns and complex cross-border mobility, IOM intends to continue providing targeted assistance that aims to alleviate human suffering and reduce threats and vulnerabilities. Through both direct implementation and a strong network of partner organizations, IOM intends to provide multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance for those in need through Health; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); Sites and Settlements; Multi-purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA); Protection; MHPSS; Non-food Items (NFI); and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM). IOM will make particular efforts to deliver targeted assistance in hard-to-reach areas where needs are typically most acute, with all activities informed through a conflict sensitivity and protection-based approach. To support the broader humanitarian response in the delivery of critical assistance, IOM will provide technical and coordination assistance to government, international and local actors, and provide logistical and operational assistance through the common pipeline and rapid response fund (RRF). IOM will also support evidence-based decision making throughout the response through the data generating and analytical capacity of the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). Finally, in a complex mixed migration environment, IOM will intend to support the onward movement, return, and reintegration of those who are on the move as a result of this ongoing crisis.
Driving solutions to displacement

As of 15 October 2024, IOM estimates that Sudan hosts an approximate 10.9 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), with 2.7 million having been displaced prior to April 2023, and that 3.2 million persons have left Sudan since the onset of conflict in search for safety and access to essential basic services. In this context many people have been in displacement for more than a year. Accordingly, IOM will deliver assistance that will ensure that displaced persons are resilient and self-reliant, and that the adverse drivers and structural factors that can cause secondary displacement are minimized. To support early recovery initiatives that will foster improved community resilience, IOM will look to deliver economic recovery interventions that enhance access to sustainable livelihoods; provide legal and housing, land and property (HLP) assistance to enhance tenure security and access to documentation; deliver community stabilization programming to ensure the sustainable integration of displaced persons; and engage with government, local authorities and local organizations to strengthen essential WASH, Shelter, Protection, and Health service provision. IOM will apply a participatory community-based approach, looking at settlements holistically and creating settlements profiles to guide decision-making on investments that will benefit communities as a whole, and enhance access to services for all. Further, IOM will also deliver programming that enhances resilience to compounding drivers of displacement through disaster risk reduction (DRR) and peacebuilding activities that can sustainably address drivers of violence and conflict.
Facilitating pathways for regular migration

In response to severe protection concerns and complex migration flows and cross-border mobility patterns across borders, IOM will support Sudan and neighbouring countries through facilitating safe channels for regular migration and through ensuring that cross-border mobility prioritizes the health, safety and security throughout the mobility continuum. To support humane channels for regular migration IOM will provide technical and operational support at Sudanese land and air borders to facilitate humane conditions for those on the move, and will also support the safe, dignified and voluntary movement of third-country nationals through the provision of consular, legal, and movement assistance. To support the safety for those on the move and the broader mobility continuum, IOM will enhance the capacity of Governments to prevent and counter trafficking of persons through the development of case management, screening protocols, and referral mechanisms; integrate protection and MHPSS through capacity building and direct assistance into border management processes; and support the provision of healthcare for those on migration routes. Further, amidst regional concerns of the spread of the infectious Mpox disease, IOM will look to strengthen emergency preparedness and outbreak control at points of entry to Sudan through the provision of legal frameworks, direct health assistance, and building the capacity of border personnel to conduct screenings and promote effective health and hygiene activities.
Percentage of funding required contributing to the long term outcomes expressed on IOM's Strategic Results Framework.
IOM places the protection, well-being, and rights of migrants at the core of its actions and decision-making within the Sudan response and mainstreams protection principles across all sectors of engagement. In so doing, IOM seeks to achieve key protection outcomes, including 1) Diminishing risks faced by affected populations, 2) Addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, and 3) Enhancing the resilience of individuals and communities.
Specifically, IOM will conduct regular situational monitoring and assessments to identify protection risks and inform the humanitarian response, highlighting the specific vulnerabilities experienced by displaced populations and those who remain trapped in conflict hotspots, and are unable to move. The analyses will guide specialized protection programming and the provision of tailored assistance through mobile and static teams, particularly the most vulnerable, including unaccompanied and separated minors, victims of trafficking, persons with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence.
IOM places the protection, well-being, and rights of migrants at the core of its actions and decision-making within the Sudan response and mainstreams protection principles across all sectors of engagement. In so doing, IOM seeks to achieve key protection outcomes, including 1) Diminishing risks faced by affected populations, 2) Addressing the needs of the most vulnerable, and 3) Enhancing the resilience of individuals and communities.
Specifically, IOM will conduct regular situational monitoring and assessments to identify protection risks and inform the humanitarian response, highlighting the specific vulnerabilities experienced by displaced populations and those who remain trapped in conflict hotspots, and are unable to move. The analyses will guide specialized protection programming and the provision of tailored assistance through mobile and static teams, particularly the most vulnerable, including unaccompanied and separated minors, victims of trafficking, persons with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence.
As a triple-mandated organization working across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, IOM will aim to enhance collaboration and integrated programming for protection outcomes to protect people from violations of their rights. To this end, IOM will streamline core principles such as Do No Harm, Human Rights Due Diligence Policies (HRDDP), prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) meaningful access to assistance, participation and empowerment, and promote accountability to affected populations. This includes operationalization of accountability mechanisms, strengthening community-based protection structures, community dialogues and consultations, and sensitization of local communities on protection risks, complemented by capacity building of and technical support to local partners and government on protection to reinforce referral pathways and mitigate risks to affected populations.


Basic needs, including food and multi-purpose cash assistance
IOM intends to continue providing life-saving assistance to those most acutely affected by the ongoing crisis in Sudan. Primarily this involves the targeted distribution of multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA), which IOM has effectively used as a cost-effective and dignified modality that allows conflict affected and displaced households to purchase the vital goods and services required to meet their immediate needs. Cash-based interventions are also able to stimulate demand for and support the recovery of local markets in under-served areas. Key activities under this intervention include:
- Evidence-based selection criteria including needs assessments, market assessments and community consultations.
- The distribution of MPCA and other forms direct food and/or non-food item distributions based on identified needs.
- The utilization of effective beneficiary registration mechanisms.
- Establishing AAP measures, including complaints and feedback mechanisms, to ensure responsible, sustainable, and protection-sensitive programming
Further, in areas of return in neighbouring countries, based on selection criteria host community members will be eligible for assistance, with MPCA able to act as a vehicle to both bolster resilience of returnees and foster improved social cohesion through supporting the needs of host community members.

Camp coordination and camp management
IOM will contribute to better site management and coordination through implementations of Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) activities in both Sudan, and South Sudan.
In Sudan IOM intends to support site management and enhance access to basic services for displaced persons through;
- Capacity building of existing site management staff, local authorities.
- Supporting or facilitating the creation of inclusive self-organizing community committees; and facilitating access to CFMs with awareness raising campaigns for existing mechanisms.
In South Sudan IOM intends to enhance the continued provision of assistance in Malakal and Bulukat transit centres, at points of entry on the Sudanese border, and returnee hosting IDP camps through which IOM. Activities will include;
- Essential site improvements and maintenance to enhance humanitarian access and maintain livable temporary shelters.
- Upgrading of critical infrastructure to improve movement operations affected by heavy rains and flooding.
- Conducting community engagement and mobile sensitization activities, offering telecommunication services, and establishing complaints mechanisms and information desks at final destinations.

Community stabilization and community-driven development
Forced displacement can weaken or diminish the social, physical and security systems required for communities in areas of displacement to function. With areas of displacement typically being fragile contexts, this can lead to displaced persons being exposed to increased communal tensions over scarce resources, marginalization, and being denied access to essential basic services. To ensure that areas of displacement are able to appropriately absorb new displaced persons who are in-turn not exposed to a new set of protection concerns, IOM will conduct the following community-driven initiatives:
- In close collaboration with community leaders, returnee leaders, and local authorities, revitalize critical infrastructure in areas of displacement that is under increasing strain due to new arrivals to ensure equitable and sustainable access.
- Conduct initiatives aimed at promoting dialogue and understanding among diverse communities, including focus group discussions, community-based planning workshops, events promoting social cohesion, and establishment of community committees.
- Support community reconciliation and non-violent political processes through empowering communities, including returnees and local communities, to manage local conflicts and fostering a culture of peace.

Data for action, insight and foresight
IOM will continue to be an essential data collection and analytical service provider that disseminates critical multi-layered information on mobility, vulnerabilities and needs of displaced and mobile populations across Sudan and neighbouring countries, and in-turn contributing to more effective, evidence-based responses.
The Displacement Matrix (DTM) will continue to monitor population mobility in Sudan, CAR, Chad, Ethiopia, Libya and South Sudan to ensure the provision of regular and updated displacement figures to partners and governments. Displacement outputs will include, but are not limited to:
- Weekly Displacement Snapshots
- Monthly Displacement Overviews
- Early Warning Flash Alerts and Emergency Event Tracking
- Return Index
In addition, IOM will continue to support the registration of new arrivals in Chad and South Sudan, where in close coordination with government authorities it will look to strengthen biometric registration and validation systems of new returnees to support their access to services, formal employment opportunities, and civic documentation.
IOM will also continue to leverage its analytical and data collection capacity to address critical information gaps and provide essential multi-sectoral analytical products. This will include, but is not limited to:
- Multi Sectoral Needs Assessments (MSNA)
- Situation Assessments
- Conflict sensitivity and contextual analysis
- Solutions and Mobility Indices in areas of return
- Movement intentions assessments

Disaster risk management
As the realities of climate change become increasingly pronounced, 2024 was a particularly acute year for natural hazards across Sudan and neighouring countries with severe flooding across the region leading to additional displacement, increased barriers to accessing basic services, and an increase in water-borne diseases. Further, large numbers of communities are of high-risk to increasingly severe drought-like conditions, which can also act as a driver of needs severity and displacement. To support enhanced Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), IOM will conduct the following activities:
- Enhance early warning and response coordination through the dissemination of timely warnings and alerts, production of DTM flash updates, conduct analysis to determine at-risk communities and deliver rapid needs assessments to assess damage and inform the response.
- Develop community-based emergency response plans.
- Provide essential relief items, including shelter, WASH and health services to affected populations.
- Conduct awareness-raising activities to support communities to better understand and respond to disaster risks.
- Mainstream DRR into WASH, shelter and community-planning activities to strengthen the capacity of infrastructure and community systems to be resilience to disaster risks.

Health
To reduce mortality, morbidity, and alleviate the suffering of crisis-affected individuals by ensuring access and availability of quality life-saving health and nutrition services through:
- Emergency primary healthcare for mobile populations, including; medical consultations, reproductive health services, and health education.
- Expanding immunization programmes, with a particular focus on cross-border disease control.
- Supporting the referrals of migrants in need of specialized care to secondary and tertiary services.
- Supporting risk communication and community engagement through community health promotion, targeting diseases such as cholera, meals and malaria
- Supporting sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) survivors including psychosocial support and clinical management of rape.
- Facilitating cross border procurement and operations from Chad and South Sudan into Sudan to serve hard-to-reach areas.
- Delivering nutrition assistance, through screening and counselling, micronutrient supplementation and targeted supplementary feeding.
IOM will contribute to the strengthening of health systems and building of resilience for at-risk communities by:
- Strengthening disease preparedness and response at points of entry through capacity building screening and assistance delivery of Government and relevant authorities.
- Supporting the rehabilitation of health services and technical capacity of health workers in areas of displacement and at points of entry.
- Building capacity of health workers and communities to assess and respond to malnutrition.
- Develop mobility-sensitive and inclusive policy and strategic frameworks for communicable disease prevention, detection and response, with a focus on Mpox preparedness.

Humanitarian border management and search and rescue
With both further displacement out of Sudan and the complex mobility patterns who have left, IOM will continue to support national and local authorities in responding to the increased pressure at border crossings. These efforts will create more humane conditions for those on the mobility continuum, ensuring respect for their rights and dignity. Activities will include;
- Training state and local authorities in evaluating migration movements and migration policies related to identity, temporary entry, health requirements, identification of potential victims of trafficking (VoTs), combating migrant smuggling, and safe referral of vulnerable migrants in need of protection.
- Supporting frontline workers to review their SOPs for natural, man-made or health emergencies, originating internally or from neighbouring countries.
- Providing Points of Entry (PoE) with systems, infrastructure and equipment to enable frontline workers to more efficiently process cross-border movements, including in times of emergencies.
- Supporting state and local authorities to create border measures to assist in the delivery of aid, including goods and equipment, and entry for humanitarian workers.
- Provide life-saving equipment to Search and Rescue (SAR) government and relevant entities for the performance of search and rescue operations along borders.

Land and property
For those in protracted displacement, many are living in precarious conditions and at risk of further displacement or eviction. Further, for those both displaced and returning to their area of origin, many face challenges in accessing their housing, land and property (HLP) rights due to dispossession and barriers in accessing effective legal pathways and support. In order to support the resilience of affected persons, IOM will address challenges related to HLP rights, claims and restitution by:
- Developing detailed assessments to determine HLP needs.
- Providing HLP case management for returnees and displaced persons.
- Building the capacity of local authorities, civil society organizations and community leaders to develop meaningful and clear pathways for addressing HLP grievances and supporting the technical provision of legal aid.
- Promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and empowering communities to establish committees to address HLP-related conflicts, thereby reducing violence over land disputes and supporting successful reintegration.
- Integrating HLP rights into shelter and WASH interventions.
- Supporting with guidance to both IOM and partners on HLP issues related to evictions and other risks in displacement settings including in gathering sites.
- Conducting community-level awareness-raising on HLP rights and pathways.

Legal identity and consular services
Access to the correct legal identity documentation is a core enabler of sustainable development and safe and regular migration. To support access, IOM will conduct the following activities:
- Build the capacity of the relevant government authorities to develop rights-based, efficient and consistent pathways for processing documentation claims.
- Support the physical issuance and delivery of key identification documentation such as birth certificates and national identity cards.

Livelihoods and economic recovery
In a context of ongoing conflict and continued displacement strengthening capacities towards sustainable livelihoods, economic recovery and employment can be critical to foster self-reliance, enhance social cohesion, and support early recovery and sustainable development. IOM aims to support livelihoods and resilience by adopting a whole-of-society approach through the following activities:
- Provide cash grants and technical assistance to community-based organizations (CBOs), displaced persons and host communities to establish new businesses.
- Facilitate market-oriented vocational/livelihood training and supporting inclusive skills development for income generating activities (IGA).
- Distribute in-kind income-generating assets based on community-identified priorities and profitable value chains.
- Facilitate complementary capacity building of communities and authorities on climate-smart, drought-resistant agricultural techniques, and livestock management, to reduce food insecurity and reduce tensions over limited resources.
- Based on community consultations, create cash-for-work (CFW) programmes and construction-oriented vocational training.
- Supporting access to higher education, including information provision, in-kind assistance and advocacy with embassies and Ministries of Education in destination countries.

Mental health and psychosocial support
In order to address the broad range of psychosocial issues related to the Sudan crises, IOM promotes and supports MHPSS at the individual, family, and community level. This is integrated into wider efforts to strengthen social cohesion, recovery, and crisis prevention through community engagement. To support these efforts IOM will conduct the following activities:
- Provide MHPSS individualized assistance to vulnerable persons, including individual counselling, psychoeducation, psychological first aid (PFA), and suicide prevention sessions.
- Community-based MHPSS assistance which could include recreational and therapeutic activities, group counselling and awareness-raising sessions on mental health issues.
- Supporting the development of trained community health workers and psychosocial mobile teams (PMTs) in order to support access to MHPSS in hard-to-reach areas.
- Supporting the referral of persons with severe mental disorders to specialized mental health care facilities during and after emergencies.
- Providing capacity building for frontline healthcare workers including counsellors, psychiatrists, community volunteers, and community leaders on PFA, MHPSS mainstreaming and basic MHPSS skills to support local crisis-affected and displaced communities.
- Building the capacity of relevant authorities to develop effective referral mechanisms and administer improved services through the rehabilitation of mental health facilities and the supply of essential medications.

Movement assistance
IOM provides humane, dignified, and voluntary movement support to internal and international migrants stranded by crises. Movement assistance includes evacuations; voluntary relocation, return and repatriation; and family reunification, as well as efforts for counter-trafficking and the protection of stranded migrants.
In Sudan, IOM will:
- Provide voluntary humanitarian return (VHR) services to internal and international migrants in need of urgent movement assistance. This may include 1) Facilitating humanitarian transportation; 2) Conducting pre-departure activities and counselling, protection screenings, and pre-embarkation checks; 3) Providing operational and medical escorts for identified cases; and 4) Providing support, liaison, and coordination services for both the host country and country of origin to organize reception assistance and appropriate referral services.
In neighbouring countries, IOM will:
- Support TCNs with direct assistance as well as VHR to their countries of origin, including 1) Medical assistance; 2) Support with consular services/emergency travel documents; 3) Protection screening and assistance; and 4) Post-arrival assistance.
- Provide Onward Transportation Assistance (OTA) to returnees and refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan including 1) Provision of movement assistance; 2) Protection screening and pre-departure health checks; and 3) Movement assistance to transit accommodation and movement support to country of origin.
- Provide border reception services and facilitate coordination with respective Embassies to evacuate vulnerable migrants from the border as needed.

Peacebuilding, violence and conflict reduction
In Sudan, IOM will contribute towards reducing risks of local conflicts (or increased conflict) by working with communities to identify drivers of conflict, strengthen capacities, and deliver peace dividends through:
- Supporting local peace processes, reconciliation efforts, conflict resolution mechanisms and other initiatives that promote social cohesion.
- Facilitating dialogues with diverse groups to contribute towards restoring trust and mitigating future violent conflict.
- Enhancing traditional conflict resolution mechanisms and building the capacity of local rural courts/institutions to facilitate regulated access to pastures and resolve land and other issues.
- Strengthening local protection mechanisms to improve security and promote trust building and accountability between local authorities and the communities they serve.
- Develop peace education programmes, including workshops and seminars, to promote peaceful coexistence, non-violence, and conflict resolution among returnees and host communities.

Protection
IOM will play a crucial role in reducing protection risks for crisis-affected communities, particularly mobile populations, through the following activities:
- Maintain and develop protection services at MRRCs, Points of Entry and Transit Centres to support screening, service provision and referral processes.
- Provide individual protection assistance, including in-kind cash for protection assistance, in order to address specific protection needs.
- Strengthen local referral mechanisms through capacity development of relevant actors through sub-grants, trainings, and in-kind assistance.
- Child protection interventions including; case management, supporting family tracing and reunification for unaccompanied and separated children, and capacity building of relevant actors.
- Education assistance through the provision of education grants, provision of learning resources and materials and personalized support to children adjusting to a new school system.
- Counter-trafficking activities through case management, in-kind assistance, strengthening of existing referral mechanisms, and capacity building on victim identification and screening at points of entry.
- Provide GBV response services at key points of entry and transit and develop and maintain women’s and girls’ safe spaces (WGSS), for returnee women and girls to ensure access to GBV case management, psychosocial support, recreational activities, occupational therapy, and referrals to other services.
Provide support to persons with disabilities through physical rehabilitation and access to mobility aids and assistive devices.

Shelter and settlements
IOM’s shelter and NFI interventions aim to save lives and restore adequate and dignified shelter for vulnerable persons. These activities will include:
- Provide life-saving emergency shelter support, based on joint needs assessments.
- Support emergency shelter (ES) assistance for those on the move through the prepositioning and distribution of NFI kits, ES kits, and voucher or cash assistance to meet ES/NFI needs.
- Support the shelter rehabilitation / reconstruction of contextually specific shelters for those in protracted displacement through the distribution of NFI kits, shelter repair tools and kits, and voucher or cash assistance.
- Support the maintenance and access to services in existing settlements; including reception centres and other communal facilities.
- Delivery of demand-based NFI distributions to address critical household needs.
- Targeted shelter and housing assistance for returnees from Sudan to support their integration.
- Through community-based planning of shelter interventions, ensure that PSEA and disability inclusion are taken into consideration in programme design.
- Continued provision of shelter and NFI distributions through the IOM operated common pipeline.

Support services for response actors
IOM will build the capacity of partners to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance. This will primarily be done through the provision of technical, in-kind and logistical support to essential response actors that could include UN Agencies, National or International NGOs, CSOs and CBOs. Activities will include:
- Common Pipeline: Continued operation of the common pipeline to ensure shelter and NFI distributions across Sudan. This will include increasing IOM’s warehouse capacity, prepositioning capability, and coverage in hard-to-reach areas in order to support partner organizations provide assistance through the common pipeline.
- Rapid Response Fund (RRF): Managing a flexible, streamlined, and needs-based fund disbursement mechanism to further support humanitarian actors who are assisting vulnerable persons.
- Providing capacity building training on humanitarian principles to local and national actors on topics such as do-no harm, PSEA, and AAP and narrative and financial reporting. This will ensure people-centred, rights-based, and consistent implementation across the funding mechanism.
- Humanitarian hub management: Establish and maintain humanitarian hubs in border areas in coordination with UN agencies and relevant government counterparts to provide conflict-sensitive assistance to internal and cross-border migrants, particularly in hard-to-reach areas affected by the conflict.
- Continue cross-border engagement to facilitate the delivery of life-saving assistance to hard-to-reach areas.

Water, sanitation and hygiene
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) interventions are designed to provide life-saving, long-term and sustainable access to safe water and sanitation. To support this IOM will conduct the following activities:
- Provision of water trucking and other forms of emergency water assistance in areas of acute WASH needs severity.
- Increasing sustainable access to safe and clean water by drilling, constructing, and/or rehabilitating water points including ground water monitoring, and providing water treatment as well as prepositioning of spare parts and tools to maintain water points. Assistance will be targeted at border points, areas of return and areas of displacement.
- Constructing/rehabilitating latrines, handwashing and other sanitation facilities.
- Procuring, prepositioning, and distributing of hygiene kits, menstrual hygiene management kits, and other water treatment items such as chlorine and soap.
- Building the capacity of community members to establish WASH management committees to support the operation and management of facilities.
- Launching hygiene promotion campaigns through risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) to raise awareness of improved hygiene practices.
- Supplying communities at-risk to the outbreak of water born diseases with water treatment equipment.
- Strengthening the capacity of local authorities and community-level structures to maintain WASH infrastructure/facilities.
Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, Uganda, Sudan
The map used here is for illustration purposes only. Names and boundaries do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by IOM.
Figures are as of 31 December 2023. For more details of IOM's operational capacity in country, please see the IOM Capacity section.