The World Health Organization is expecting around 350k Sudanese refugees to flee to Egypt due to the ongoing conflict, it said in a report (pdf) yesterday. More than 215k of the 2 mn people who have fled since violence broke out in the country two months ago came to Egypt, according to UN data. The global health body is looking to immediately secure some USD 5 mn to fund health services for refugees over the coming six months, it said in the report.

The conflicts in Sudan and Ukraine have helped push the global number of displaced persons to some 110 mn people, the AP reports UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi as saying. “It’s quite an indictment on the state of our world,” Grandi said.

Also worth knowing this morning:

  • Lebanon still doesn’t have a president: The Lebanese parliament again failed to elect a new president yesterday, with neither Jihad Azour, a senior IMF official, or Hezbollah-backed Suleiman Frangieh securing the required votes. (Associated Press | Reuters)
  • MBS in Paris: French president Emmanuel Macron will host Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman for talks in Paris on Friday. MBS flew out to France on Wednesday to attend a financial conference and to support Riyadh’s bid to host the World Expo in 2030. (Bloomberg | Saudi Press Agency)
  • Operation Save FSO Safer is finally underway:A USD 140 mn operation is underway off the coast of Yemen to transfer oil from deteriorating supertanker FSO Safer that’s been branded a “ticking time bomb.” (Bloomberg)
  • Kyiv outside Nato but under Western protection? The US and allies UK, Germany, and France are working on an agreement to provide Ukraine with long-term security assurances before the Nato summit next month, rather than an offer of membership. (Financial Times)
  • Russia lobbying against further economic isolation: Moscow has warned countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE that Ukrainian calls to place Russia on the Financial Action Task Force’s blacklist or graylist could harm trade ties. (Bloomberg)
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