**Title: Over 200,000 Newly Displaced in Sudan’s Kordofan Amid Ongoing Conflict**
**Date: August 20, 2026**
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Kordofan region has escalated dramatically, with the United Nations reporting that more than 200,000 people have been newly displaced due to intensified fighting since late last year. This alarming increase in displacement is attributed to ongoing violent clashes and targeted drone attacks that have severely impacted essential infrastructure, particularly in the city of El Obeid, the largest urban center in the region.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a stark warning about the situation, highlighting the compounded effects of conflict and seasonal flooding in nearby North Darfur state. IOM Director General Amy Pope emphasized the dire circumstances facing families in Sudan, stating, “The warning signs are impossible to ignore. Across Sudan, families are fleeing violence, losing access to water, electricity and healthcare, and now facing the added burden of destructive floods.”
Recent reports indicate that displacement in the Sheikan district, which encompasses El Obeid, has surged by 25 percent over the past eight months. The city, which had a population of approximately 750,000 before the outbreak of war in April 2023, has seen its numbers swell to an estimated 3.4 million as people flee violence and seek refuge.
The situation in El Obeid has been exacerbated by drone attacks targeting the city’s primary power transformer, which has led to widespread electricity outages. These outages have disrupted vital services, including water supply, healthcare facilities, and communication networks. The IOM has noted that the ongoing conflict has rendered many families unable to access basic necessities.
In addition to the crisis in Kordofan, the IOM reported significant displacement in other regions. Approximately 78,000 individuals have fled their homes in Blue Nile state, while West Darfur has seen about 18,000 people displaced in just the first half of August. In North Darfur, heavy rains have caused extensive damage, displacing over 1,000 families as nearly 1,350 homes were affected in the Tawila area.
The cumulative impact of these factors has led to what the IOM describes as one of the largest displacement crises in the world. Since the war began, an estimated 59,000 people have lost their lives, and around 8.6 million people have been internally displaced. Additionally, more than 4.2 million individuals have sought refuge in neighboring countries. The UN estimates that approximately 33.7 million people in Sudan currently require humanitarian assistance.
Al Jazeera's correspondent, Almigdad Alruhaid, reported from a key road leading to El Obeid, detailing how drone strikes from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group have targeted military vehicles, oil tankers, and cargo trucks. The city has experienced one of the longest sieges of the ongoing conflict, with the RSF maintaining positions south and west of El Obeid and continuing to attack surrounding villages. This ongoing violence further complicates the already dire humanitarian situation.
Humanitarian organizations, including Save the Children, have raised alarms about the plight of vulnerable populations, particularly children. In the first six months of 2026 alone, nearly 39,000 children have arrived in El Obeid, further straining the limited resources available to assist those in need.
As the conflict continues to ravage Sudan, the international community faces increasing pressure to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis. With millions displaced and in urgent need of assistance, the situation in Kordofan and beyond remains critical, highlighting the urgent need for a sustained and coordinated humanitarian response.