The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration has reported a significant displacement crisis in Sudan’s Kordofan region, with more than 200,000 people newly displaced as a result of escalating armed conflict. The warning was issued on Wednesday and comes as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate across multiple states in Sudan.
The displacement surge has been particularly acute in the Sheikan district, which contains the regional city of el-Obeid, where displacement figures have increased by 25 percent over the preceding eight months. Additional displacement has occurred in neighboring areas, including approximately 78,000 people in Blue Nile state and roughly 18,000 others in West Darfur during the first half of August. The crisis has been compounded by seasonal flooding in North Darfur state, where heavy rains in the Tawila area have damaged nearly 1,350 homes and displaced more than 1,000 families.
The situation in el-Obeid has been further aggravated by repeated drone attacks targeting the city’s infrastructure. Strikes on the main power transformer have disrupted electricity supplies needed for water pumping, hospital operations, and telecommunications services. According to reporting from the area, drones operated by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have also targeted military vehicles, fuel tankers, and cargo trucks on major routes leading to the city.
The city, which had a pre-war population of approximately 750,000, has seen its population swell to an estimated 3.4 million according to local authorities, reflecting the scale of internal displacement. Humanitarian organizations have documented the arrival of nearly 39,000 children in the first half of the year alone. Overall, Sudan’s conflict has resulted in an estimated 59,000 deaths since April 2023, with 8.6 million people internally displaced and more than 4.2 million having fled to neighboring countries. The UN estimates that 33.7 million people across Sudan require humanitarian assistance.
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