More than 200,000 people have been newly displaced across Sudan’s Kordofan region due to intensified fighting, according to the Aljazeera. The escalation is driven by ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in 2023 amid a power struggle over military integration.
Over 200,000 Newly Displaced as Conflict Escalates in Kordofan
According to the International Organization for Migration, displacement in Kordofan’s Sheikan district—which includes the major city of el-Obeid—has surged by 25 percent over the past eight months. In el-Obeid, drone attacks attributed to the RSF have targeted the city’s main electrical transformer, causing prolonged power outages that have disrupted water pumping, health facilities, and telecommunications.
The warning signs are impossible to ignore,
said IOM Director General Amy Pope. Across Sudan, families are fleeing violence, losing access to water, electricity, and healthcare, and now facing the added burden of destructive floods.
Infrastructure Attacks and Siege Conditions in El-Obeid
El-Obeid has endured one of the longest sieges of the war. While the Sudanese army holds the city, the RSF maintains positions to the south and west while continuing attacks on nearby villages and critical supply routes.
Al Jazeera reported that drones belonging to the RSF have targeted army vehicles, oil tankers, and cargo trucks along the main roads leading into el-Obeid. Before the war, the city had a population of 750,000, but local authorities estimate the population has since reached 3.4 million. Additionally, Save the Children reported that nearly 39,000 children arrived in el-Obeid during the first six months of the year.
Global supply chain disruptions, particularly through the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, have further hampered relief efforts, adding pressure to an already fragile humanitarian response.
Widespread Displacement Across Multiple Regions
The displacement crisis extends far beyond Kordofan, compounding an overall conflict that has forced millions from their homes since April 2023. Key regional impacts include:
- Blue Nile State: Clashes in and near Geissan forced 7,800 people to flee, with some crossing into neighboring Ethiopia. The independent Sudan Doctors Network noted that over 5,000 displaced individuals arrived in the regional capital of Damazin facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter.
- West Darfur: Approximately 18,000 people were displaced during the first half of August alone.
- North Darfur: Heavy seasonal rains and flooding in the Tawila area damaged nearly 1,350 homes, displacing over 1,000 families. Additional flooding in Kabkabiya and Shangil Tobaya forced dozens more into temporary shelters.
Humanitarian Response and Strained Resources
Humanitarian agencies are racing to deliver aid despite severe logistical challenges caused by ongoing fighting and damaged infrastructure. The IOM reported that over a recent 72-hour period, it delivered 1,750 metric tons of humanitarian supplies—including 17,750 hygiene kits and 850 tents—benefiting 110,750 people, with distributions expected to reach more than 400,000 individuals in the coming days.
Nationwide, the broader crisis has left approximately 8.6 million people internally displaced since the war began, while more than 4.2 million have fled to neighboring countries. According to the UN, an estimated 33.7 million people require humanitarian assistance across Sudan as organizations contend with damaged infrastructure, seasonal floods, and active combat zones.
