Sudan’s El-Fasher crisis displaces nearly 89,000 civilians, IOM reports

The UN migration agency, IOM, reported on Sunday that the number of civilians forced to flee El-Fasher in western Sudan has surged to nearly 89,000 following the city's seizure by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last month. This significant exodus from the capital of North Darfur underscores the severe human toll of the ongoing conflict in Sudan, a situation Türkiye and other international actors are monitoring closely due to regional stability concerns.

Recent Displacement Figures

According to data from IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix, an additional 7,075 people were displaced from El-Fasher between November 5 and 8 alone. This new wave of displacement was directly driven by the deteriorating security situation in the area. The displaced populations have sought refuge in various localities within North Darfur state, including Tawila, Mellit, and Saraf Omra.

Worsening Security and Access

The International Organization for Migration highlighted the critically insecure conditions along major roads, which are severely hampering the safe movement of civilians attempting to escape the violence. The UN agency characterized the overall situation in the region as both tense and volatile, raising alarms about a deepening humanitarian crisis. The RSF's capture of El-Fasher on October 26 was also marked by reports of ethnic-based massacres, according to local and international monitoring groups.

Background of the Broader Conflict

The current displacement crisis is a direct result of the wider war that erupted between the Sudanese army and the RSF paramilitary group on April 15, 2023. Despite numerous regional and international mediation attempts, the conflict has persisted, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing millions of people across Sudan and into neighboring countries. There are growing concerns that the assault on El-Fasher could further entrench a de facto geographical partition of the country.