UN reports over 600 more civilians flee fighting in Sudan's Kordofan

Intensifying violence in Sudan's central Kordofan region has forced hundreds more civilians to abandon their homes, according to the United Nations. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Wednesday that around 650 people fled several towns in South Kordofan state over a two-day period as security conditions deteriorate.

New displacement from key towns

The UN agency detailed that 460 people displaced from the city of Kadugli on Monday and Tuesday, heading to North Kordofan, White Nile state, and the capital, Khartoum. An additional 190 individuals fled from the towns of Dilling and Al-Kuweik, seeking shelter elsewhere within the Kordofan region. This follows a report of 575 people displaced from the same areas just the day before, on Sunday, illustrating a rapid and continuous exodus driven by the approaching frontline.

A mounting regional humanitarian crisis

The recent displacements are part of a much larger wave of movement. UN estimates indicate more than 41,000 people fled escalating violence in North and South Kordofan states during November alone. The three Kordofan states have become a major battleground in the civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with fighting causing widespread destruction and paralyzing civilian life.

Broader conflict landscape and international concern

The war, which began in April 2023, has partitioned Sudan. The RSF controls the five states of the Darfur region in the west, while the army holds most other territories, including Khartoum. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions, creating one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Neighboring countries and international actors, including Türkiye which has provided significant humanitarian aid, continue to call for an immediate ceasefire, unhindered aid access, and a political solution to end the suffering.