War Expels Displaced; Crowds Continue to Pour onto Sudan’s Frontlines
More than 12 people were killed and others injured in North Kordofan, as Sudanese Army fighter jets and drones launched strikes on Rapid Support Forces (RSF) concentrations in the state. Meanwhile, hundreds of families fleeing combat zones have arrived in the city of Omdurman, as military buildups continue on the Kordofan and Blue Nile fronts, signaling the potential for a resumption of direct ground confrontations.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing local authorities, reported that more than 12 civilians were killed and others injured in clashes in the Um Arda area, southwest of Omdurman. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that more than 4,200 people displaced from the town and surrounding areas during the past Friday and Saturday.
In a related field development, witnesses reported that Army fighter jets and drones launched strikes on RSF concentrations in North Kordofan and Blue Nile, even as the intensity of direct ground clashes between the two sides had subsided. Air operations and drone attacks remained a constant presence in the theater of operations.
As Army forces and their allies seek to expand their control in North Kordofan and secure the perimeter of Omdurman, RSF forces are concentrated in areas to the west and south of the city, keeping contact lines open for a new round of confrontations. The air strikes aim to mitigate the impact of these buildups.
The ongoing military tension has exacerbated displacement flows. Press reports indicated that approximately 500 families fled on foot from the Um Arda and Jebel Heshaba areas to Omdurman, in the latest wave of displacement toward the capital of North Kordofan. These families arrived in a city already facing mounting pressure from the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from surrounding combat zones. OCHA had previously warned that escalating violence in North Kordofan would inevitably drive increasing numbers of residents to seek safety in the city, thereby straining services and IDP hosting sites.
The deterioration of the security situation has disrupted some humanitarian activities. OCHA stated that humanitarian partners were forced to suspend health-related activities and services for more than two weeks in the Al-Muzarub area, which is experiencing a cholera outbreak. The agency warned of the consequences of continued violence on civilians and the potential hindrance of aid delivery to those in need.
