The United Nations has raised alarm over worsening insecurity in Sudan, warning that renewed violence, particularly across the Kordofan region, is placing civilians in extreme danger and triggering fresh waves of displacement.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric disclosed this on Tuesday in New York, noting that the deteriorating situation in the Kordofans continues to expose civilians to severe risks while forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Sudan has remained engulfed in conflict since April 2023, with rival military forces battling for territorial control. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have expanded their presence in western and southern parts of the country, while the Sudanese military maintains control over much of the east, including the capital, effectively splitting the country.
Recent drone strikes in North Darfur, a region already at the centre of Sudan’s deepening hunger crisis, have reportedly claimed more lives. The attacks occurred just days before the conflict marked its 1,000th day, underscoring the prolonged humanitarian catastrophe.
According to figures from the International Organisation for Migration, nearly 1,000 people were displaced from a locality in South Kordofan between Dec. 31 and Jan. 4 due to violence. An additional 2,000 residents were forced to flee their homes in North Kordofan on Monday alone.
Overall, an estimated 65,000 people were displaced across the Kordofan region between late October and the end of December, highlighting the scale of the crisis.
The protracted war, which has drawn in foreign interests and destabilised neighbouring countries, has created one of the world’s largest displacement emergencies. United Nations data indicate that more than 12 million people have been uprooted nationwide.
The UN has renewed calls for an immediate halt to hostilities, protection of civilians, and unhindered humanitarian access to affected areas.
Meanwhile, UN agencies are working to improve living conditions in Khartoum as residents gradually return following the city’s recapture by government forces last year. The UN Development Programme and its partners are clearing debris, providing short-term employment opportunities, and supporting the distribution of essential medicines despite damaged infrastructure.
In Ed-Damer, northeast of the capital, humanitarian teams are also offering psychosocial support and other services, particularly for women affected by the conflict.