The United Nations (UN) migration agency warned that civilians are fleeing in fear as violence intensifies between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have been at war since April 2023 following the collapse of Sudan’s transition to civilian rule.
Speaking from Port Sudan, IOM Chief of Mission Mohamed Refaat said people were not moving by choice but were running simply to find safety, urging the international community to step up support to protect civilians.
The warning follows reports of heavy shelling in South Kordofan, where RSF fighters and allied forces from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North shelled residential areas in Dilling over the past 48 hours. In recent weeks, violence has spread across several towns, forcing families to flee from Babanusa, Kadugli and El-Obeid.
IOM said displacement from Kordofan was accelerating because communities feared further attacks. Many of those arriving in safer areas, including White Nile and Gedaref states, are women and children, raising concerns about protection risks and access to basic services.
The situation is particularly tense in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, following a drone attack last weekend that killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers deployed with the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei. IOM estimates that between 90 000 and 100 000 people could be displaced from Kadugli alone if fighting continues and exit routes open.
There are also growing fears for El-Obeid in North Kordofan, which humanitarian officials describe as being close to becoming the next major flashpoint. IOM estimates that more than half a million people could be affected if violence escalates there.
In Darfur, the humanitarian situation remains dire following the fall of El Fasher to the RSF on October 26, 2025, after a prolonged siege. More than 109 000 people have fled the city and surrounding villages, with many still trapped nearby due to insecurity and lack of transport.
Aid agencies have also warned that severe funding cuts are undermining the response. IOM said it has lost $83 million in funding this year, forcing difficult decisions about where life-saving assistance can continue, even as needs across Sudan continue to grow.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
