Tens of Thousands Flee as Sudan’s Civil War Engulfs Kordofan

The civil war in Sudan continues to escalate, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. As fighting spreads into new territories, the humanitarian toll is reaching a breaking point. Since the conflict began in April 2023, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a brutal power struggle.

The latest humanitarian disaster is now unfolding in Southern and Western Kordofan. This conflict has transformed once-stable towns into dangerous battlefields. As a result, civilians must often escape with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

The Push Into West Kordofan

In recent weeks, the RSF has intensified its campaign in West Kordofan. Survivors describe a harrowing experience, reporting that they were removed from their communities with zero warning.

Hanan Abdallah, a former resident of the city of Babanusa, shared her story of sudden displacement:

“We were living in Babanusa when the Rapid Support Forces arrived and expelled us. They didn’t even allow us time to dress properly. Our children had to flee barefoot into the streets.”

The RSF’s advance into the oil-rich Kordofan region follows their capture of the army’s final strongholds in neighboring Darfur last October. This strategic move has placed several major cities under immense pressure.

Starvation and Survival in South Kordofan

As the RSF bolsters its control, the cities of Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan remain under siege. Currently, hundreds of thousands of residents are trapped. These families face a catastrophic lack of food, clean water, and medicine.

The journey to safety is often as dangerous as the fighting itself. Khamisa Othman, another displaced survivor, highlighted the extreme conditions faced by those on the move:

• No Access to Basics: Displaced families found no shops or clean water during their escape.
• Desperate Measures: Many people were forced to forage in forests for survival.
• Health Risks: Khamisa recounted drinking from a stagnant pond used by livestock just to stay hydrated.

A Global Humanitarian Crisis

The United Nations has officially categorized the situation in Sudan as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Both the Sudanese army and the RSF face accusations of committing war crimes. Meanwhile, the civilian death toll continues to rise and vital infrastructure is decimated.

The conflict now threatens the critical oil infrastructure of Kordofan. Because of this, the international community remains deeply concerned about regional stability. Millions of people caught in the crossfire now face an uncertain future.