The United Nations warned that thousands of families displaced from El Fasher (also written as Al Fashir in some accounts) in North Darfur are living in extremely harsh conditions, with urgent needs for shelter, food, clean water and medical care.

OCHA said more than 3,000 recent arrivals in the Tawela Al Amdah displacement site need basic items and shelter assistance, including plastic sheeting, mats and blankets, and that many people — including the injured, people with disabilities and unaccompanied children — are sleeping in the open without protection or sanitation facilities. OCHA also reported that the camps of Daba Al Naira and Umjangur host over 6,500 recently displaced people lacking shelter and essential supplies.

An interagency mission led by Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator Antoine Girard arrived in Tawela to assess needs and coordinate the response with local communities, the UN spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that hundreds of displaced families who fled El Fasher on foot had reached Al Daba locality in Northern State after several days of walking through harsh conditions.

The UN told reporters that roughly 2,800 people are sheltering in overcrowded sites in another area and that families continuing to arrive urgently need food, medical care, psychosocial support, shelter and warm clothing as temperatures drop.

Funding: The UN spokesperson said this year’s Sudan humanitarian response plan is about 28% funded, with approximately $1.17 billion received of the $4.16 billion required.

Why it matters: Large new displacement and severely underfunded plans increase risks of disease, exposure and further instability for newly arrived families and host communities.