Over 88,000 displaced as violence escalates in Sudan's Kordofan region

The United Nations has reported that escalating violence in Sudan's central Kordofan region has displaced more than 88,000 people since late October, creating a severe and worsening humanitarian emergency. UN officials warned on Wednesday that access to trapped civilians remains severely restricted, pushing isolated urban centers to a critical breaking point.

A City in Crisis: Dilling Cut Off and Depleted

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric highlighted the desperate situation in Dilling, South Kordofan's second-largest city, describing conditions as "highly volatile." Dujarric stated, "access routes are still cut off, and the city's prolonged isolation has pushed conditions to crisis level." According to UN partners, approximately half of Dilling's civilian population fled last year. Those who remain face "critical shortages of food, health care, and other basic services." Humanitarian operations are described as extremely limited, with only a small number of NGOs able to work under "severe constraints."

Widespread Displacement and Violence Across Regions

The displacement crisis extends across Kordofan. Data from the International Organization for Migration estimates that over 88,000 people were displaced between late October 2025 and mid-January 2026 due to the conflict. In the neighboring Darfur region, the situation is equally dire. Dujarric reported that in North Darfur State, civilians were "reportedly killed and injured in drone strikes on Monday," which also destroyed livelihoods and damaged fragile health facilities. Families fleeing the major city of El Fasher continue to arrive in towns like Tawila in urgent need of food, shelter, water, and medical support.

A Nationwide Conflict with Deepening Humanitarian Needs

The crisis in Kordofan and Darfur is part of the wider war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions nationwide. The RSF controls most of the five-state Darfur region, while the army holds much of the country's center, east, and north, including the capital, Khartoum. Both sides, along with allied groups like the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North (SPLM-N), have been accused of violations against civilians. The UN's Dujarric urged all parties "to immediately de-escalate violence and engage in genuine dialogue towards an immediate cessation of hostilities" and called on international donors to increase funding for lifesaving aid operations.