Thousands flee southern Sudan as clashes intensify

Intensifying clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have forced thousands to flee the town of Um Rawaba in southern Sudan, according to the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The violence, which began in April 2023, pits army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan against Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of the RSF.

Over a span of five days, between 1,000 and 3,000 households were displaced from Um Rawaba in North Kordofan state due to escalating security concerns, the IOM reported.

This adds to the staggering 205,000 already displaced in North Kordofan alone. Nationally, Sudan faces the world’s largest displacement crisis, with 11.5 million internally displaced individuals, including 2.7 million uprooted by previous conflicts.

The conflict has devastated the nation, claiming tens of thousands of lives and pushing millions to the brink of famine. A recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) review revealed famine in five areas of western and southern Sudan, with expectations of it spreading to five additional regions.

Approximately 350,000 residents in North Kordofan are experiencing emergency levels of hunger, a step away from famine. Nationwide, 24.6 million people—nearly half the population—are battling acute food insecurity.

The IPC stressed that only a ceasefire could halt the worsening humanitarian crisis, with fighting spreading toward Al-Jazira state, 300 kilometers northeast of Um Rawaba.

Despite the urgent need for peace, the conflict continues to escalate, deepening the suffering of Sudan’s population.