Briefing by the ICRC on the Humanitarian Situation in Africa

Date | 28 October 2024

Tomorrow (29 October), the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) is expected to convene for its 1239th session to receive a briefing from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on its activities and the humanitarian situation in Africa.

Following opening remarks by Mohamed Gad, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the AU and PSC Chairperson for October 2024, Bankole Adeoye, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), is expected to deliver a statement. Patrick Youssef, ICRC Regional Director for Africa, is expected to deliver the briefing.

The last time the ICRC briefed the PSC was at the 1178th meeting of the PSC convened on 10 October 2023, in which, among other decisions, called for ‘an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities in all conflict areas in Africa, in particular, in Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.’ It is expected that tomorrow’s briefing will provide updates on trends in the humanitarian situation on the continent. Apart from providing highlights of some of the major humanitarian crises on the continent, the session is also expected to reflect on the factors and dynamics contributing to the dire humanitarian situation on the continent. Additionally, the session serves as an opportunity to put a spotlight on the challenges to effective humanitarian action and sustainable resolution of the crises.

As highlighted in the data and analysis in the latest Amani Africa’s Special Research Report, ‘Memo to the New AU Commission Leadership from the Roaring Guns on AU’s First Decade of Silencing the Guns,’ the humanitarian crises on the continent are worsening. Ongoing conflicts, such as those in the Sahel, DR Congo and the Horn of Africa, have displaced millions, destroyed infrastructure and disrupted livelihoods. While conflict remains a major driver of the deterioration of the humanitarian situation, climate change has intensified, leading to severe droughts, floods and other extreme weather events that further strain already vulnerable communities. Food insecurity is growing, with millions facing acute hunger due to the combined effects of conflict, climate shocks and economic instability. Moreover, outbreaks of diseases like cholera, measles, Marburg virus and Mpox threaten vulnerable populations in parts of the continent.

In Sudan for instance, more than 18 months into the war in the country between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), over 11 million people have been displaced both internally and across borders. In a recent Joint Statement by UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, around 13 million people are experiencing severe food insecurity. 14 regions throughout the country are on the verge of famine, with famine conditions already confirmed in North Darfur. This year, 3.7 million children under five years are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition and urgently require life-saving treatment. In fact, WFP Sudan reported that over 25 million Sudanese are facing a serious hunger crisis as wheat and sorghum prices soared by 25% from August to September 2024. Taking note of Chad’s cooperation in opening its border for humanitarian supplies, the statement called for the re-establishment of UN offices in Zalingei, Central Darfur and Kadugli, South Kordofan. More disturbing are the atrocities that RSF forces are unleashing in Jezira state and the suffering resulting from the persisting fighting in El Fasher, North Sudan.

Somalia faces the dual challenges of a devastating natural disaster and a volatile political and security landscape. Following a prolonged drought that began in 2021, heavy rains starting in October 2023 led to widespread flooding, impacting approximately 2.48 million people. This disaster resulted in the displacement of 1.2 million individuals and claimed the lives of over a hundred Somalis. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) reported that 3.8 million people are internally displaced, while 4.3 million are experiencing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity, highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis. It is to be recalled that the overflow of the Shabelle River displaced 3,650 people from the Belet Weyne and Afgooye districts, with nearly 200 hectares of agricultural land impacted and 130 shelters, 20 community latrines and one educational facility destroyed.

On the other hand, in West and Central Africa, torrential rains and severe flooding have recently affected about 6.9 million people in the region, which has led to internal displacement of over 1 million people in 11 countries. Out of the 16 countries hit by the flooding, the most affected are Chad, followed by Niger, Nigeria and DR Congo. In Chad, which has been experiencing significant flooding since late July 2024, government data indicated that as of 15 October 1,941,869 people have been impacted, with 576 reported fatalities. In Cameroon, as of 11 October 2024, the Regional Delegation of Health reported that 68,285 households—around 409,710 individuals—have been affected, including 139,651 children under five and 29,428 pregnant women. Humanitarian emergency response efforts are encountering significant logistical challenges, including limited access to the affected regions.

Apart from the flooding catastrophe, the Central Africa region continues to face recurring humanitarian crises caused by conflicts, affecting a number of countries including Cameroon, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC has the highest number of conflicts, with approximately 7 million people displaced from their homes, many repeatedly, with 2.5 million of those in North Kivu alone. Despite multiple peace agreements and international interventions, violence continues in the eastern regions, fueled by various armed groups, including the M23, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). DRC is also the epicentre of the Mpox outbreak.

Many countries in Southern Africa face severe drought conditions. In Malawi, 52 new cholera cases were reported across three districts: Chitipa (41 cases, one death), Karonga (9 cases) and Machinga (2 cases, one death). In Mozambique, approximately 945,000 individuals have been internally displaced due to the ongoing armed conflict in Cabo Delgado Province. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report anticipates an increase in acute food insecurity, rising from 2.6 million to 3.3 million people between October 2023 and March 2024. In Zambia on the other hand, a total of 12,200,000 people are affected by drought, with 6,600,000 in need of humanitarian assistance. Additionally, there have been 23,378 cumulative cholera cases resulting in 740 deaths, although no new cases have been reported since 29 June 2024.

In West Africa and the Sahel region, nearly 33 million Sahelians are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection to survive, with the number of food-insecure people rising from what it was in 2023.  The countries with the highest numbers of food-insecure individuals in 2024 are Nigeria with 25 million, Chad with 2.4 million and Burkina Faso with 1.75 million. As of 30 April 2024, 7.6 million people were forcibly displaced in conflict and climate change-affected areas of Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

Amidst these challenges, humanitarian response efforts face major challenges. Aid agencies striving to offer effective support encounter a highly challenging operating environment. Violation of IHL has become recurrent. Humanitarian workers continue to be attacked. Similarly, infrastructure critical to the provision of humanitarian assistance such as hospitals are also targeted by conflict parties. In some conflict settings such as Sudan, humanitarian access is used as a weapon of war. Making matters worse bureaucratic obstacles, inadequate road infrastructure and escalating costs of humanitarian assistance—outpacing declining funding—are all hindering aid delivery and access in the areas of greatest need. Humanitarian response is also impeded by a lack of institutional and legal frameworks or their inadequacy for response to humanitarian emergencies or crises and weak implementation of AU policies.

The expected outcome of the session is a communiqué. The PSC may express concern over the growing humanitarian crises in the continent and may in particular note the humanitarian impact of the intersection of armed conflicts, violent extremism, climate change-induced extreme weather conditions and epidemics. It may condemn attacks by conflict parties against humanitarian actors, medical facilities, civilians and civilian infrastructure.  The PSC may also commend humanitarian actors including local responders and communities hosting IDPs and refugees. It may call for a review of the implementation of the outcome of the Malabo Summit on the humanitarian situation in Africa under decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.856(XXXVI)]. The PSC may request the AU Commission to work with the ICRC to find ways of advancing the promotion of observance of IHL in conflict situations. It may remind all conflict parties that they have an obligation to respect IHL and hold those who engage in violation of IHL accountable. It may urge Member States to recommit themselves and contribute towards advancing the observance of IHL in all situations on the continent. The PSC may call upon parties to conflicts to implement practical measures to ensure civilian protection and unimpeded humanitarian access including the protection of and access to schools and other learning institutions. The PSC may call on Member States to carefully review, develop and implement domestic legislation and institutional processes that facilitate the protection of civilians, respect for IHL and effective and unhindered humanitarian response.