Intensified military clashes in southeastern Sudan have displaced approximately 22,000 residents from Blue Nile state over the past week, according to a report released Tuesday by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The sudden humanitarian displacement centers primarily on the Geissan district, where escalating violence involving the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the allied Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) has forced families from their homes.
Local humanitarian entities, including the Geissan Emergency Room, confirmed that nearly 20,000 people fled the Medina 12 locality alone due to worsening conditions. Displaced populations are reportedly taking shelter in local schools, while thousands more continue to travel toward the regional capital of Ed Damazine or disperse into adjacent localities such as Wad Al-Mahi. Local aid groups warned that fleeing families face severe shortages of shelter, clean water, and basic necessities.
The fresh offensive in Blue Nile follows reports that RSF units seized military positions in Bakori and Sirkam, southeast of Ed Damazine. Simultaneously, violent incidents continue to flare across the greater Kordofan and Darfur regions:
* North Kordofan State: Attacks on communities north and northwest of the state capital, El Obeid, resulted in civilian casualties, displacement, and widespread looting of private property and livestock. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 450 people fled the village of al-Qardud Abu Zeid in the al-Rahad district within a single day due to security threats.
* West Darfur State: A drone strike targeted a fuel market in Adekong near the Chadian border, causing civilian deaths and injuries while damaging commercial infrastructure.
* South Kordofan State: Clashes surrounding major urban centers triggered additional localized movements of displaced families seeking security.
In its statement, OCHA reiterated calls for all armed factions to adhere strictly to international humanitarian law, protect civilian infrastructure, and ensure unhindered, safe access for international aid personnel.
The ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and created one of the world's largest displacement crises, forcing roughly 13 million people from their homes across Sudan and neighboring countries.
