Escalating Sudan violence displaces over 700 in a single day

Intensifying violence in Sudan's central Kordofan region has forced over 700 people to flee their homes in a single day, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM). Attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are driving a severe and growing displacement crisis, compounding a humanitarian catastrophe where famine has now been declared.

Specific displacements from Kordofan villages

IOM field teams reported that on Saturday, approximately 650 people fled Imran village in North Kordofan's Ar-Rahad locality due to "escalating insecurity," scattering to various locations within the area. Simultaneously, another 150 individuals were displaced from Kaiga Al-Khayl in South Kordofan's Kadugli locality, moving to areas across South and West Kordofan states. These daily displacements contribute to a staggering toll of over 41,000 people who have fled violence in the two states in the past month alone.

Famine declared in besieged Kadugli

The city of Kadugli in South Kordofan, under a prolonged siege by the RSF and allied groups, faces a dire humanitarian emergency. UNICEF's representative in Sudan, Sheldon Yett, confirmed on Friday that famine has taken hold in the city. Kadugli has endured repeated artillery and drone attacks, leading to successive waves of displacement, though precise population figures are unavailable due to the chaos.

Context of Sudan's nationwide conflict

The Kordofan region has become a fierce battleground in the wider war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions nationwide. The RSF controls most of the Darfur region in the west, while the army holds much of the country's east, north, south, and center, including the capital Khartoum. The fighting in Kordofan represents a critical front that is exacerbating one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters.