Sudan's Escalating Conflict Traps Women and Children in Besieged West Kordofan City

A Sudanese medical association has issued a stark warning regarding the safety of numerous women and children caught in the crossfire of renewed military clashes in the city of Babnousa, located in Sudan's West Kordofan state. The Sudan Doctors Network expressed grave concern over their unknown fate following intense fighting between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Situation on the Ground

According to the network's statement, heavy combat erupted after RSF fighters reportedly overran the city, threatening families who had sought refuge at a local army headquarters. Videos circulated by the RSF purportedly show these civilians enduring severe humanitarian conditions at the military site. The medical group has urgently called for their protection and safe transfer to a secure location, free from arbitrary detention.

Calls for International Action and Aid

The organization emphasized the critical need for establishing immediate safe corridors to evacuate the trapped civilians. It also appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance and pressured the international community to intervene. Specifically, the network urged global actors to leverage their influence on the RSF leadership to facilitate the evacuation of families from active conflict zones near Babnousa.

Background of the Ongoing Conflict

This recent surge in violence contradicts earlier claims of a humanitarian truce. The Sudanese army stated it repelled a new RSF assault on Babnousa this week, following the paramilitary group's announcement of seizing the city and capturing the 22nd Infantry Division headquarters. The fighting has triggered massive displacement, with local committees reporting that nearly 177,000 people have already fled the area. The broader conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in catastrophic national displacement and loss of life.

Official Stance and Regional Implications

While the Sudanese government maintains it is open to negotiations, it insists the RSF must first withdraw from occupied urban and civilian centers to allow displaced persons to return. The escalating crisis in Sudan poses significant challenges for regional stability and underscores the necessity for a coordinated international response, a point Türkiye has consistently highlighted in its diplomatic calls for peace and humanitarian access in conflict zones.