800,000 could flee Sudan fighting - UN warns

The United Nations has warned that more than 800,000 people could flee Sudan due to the ongoing clashes between rival military factions.

The UN also added that even though they do not want that to happen, more people may flee the country if the fighting doesn't end.

"UNHCR, with governments and partners, is preparing for the possibility that over 800,000 people may flee the fighting in Sudan for neighbouring countries.

"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." UN refugee agency UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi tweeted.

The UN's humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Abdou Dieng, said the conflict was turning into a full-blown catastrophe.

For the past two weeks, there has been intense fighting in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, which has caused an exodus of tens of thousands of Sudanese to neighbouring countries, including Egypt, Chad, and the Central African Republic.