Fire at Sudan displacement camp leaves 350 families homeless in Darfur

A fire at a displacement camp in Sudan's Darfur region has left 350 families homeless after destroying and damaging hundreds of shelters, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Tuesday. The organization said in a statement that the fire broke out Saturday at the Um Baloula camp for displaced people in the town of Gereida in South Darfur, destroying 350 shelters completely and partially damaging 104 others.

Displacement conditions

The blaze forced 350 families to flee, with those affected relocated to open areas inside the town of Gereida, it added. Displaced people in Sudan live in harsh conditions in makeshift shelters built from straw and wood and rely heavily on food and medical aid for survival. Fires have become more frequent in displacement camps in recent months, often due to narrow roads and overcrowding.

Sudan conflict context

Sudan has been gripped by conflict since April 2023 between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over disagreements over integration into the military. The war has killed tens of thousands, displaced around 13 million people, and pushed parts of the country toward famine, in one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Humanitarian impact

The Um Baloula camp fire highlights the precarious conditions faced by millions of displaced Sudanese, who remain vulnerable to both conflict-related violence and secondary disasters such as fires, floods, and disease outbreaks.