More than 11,000 people, including over 5,500 children, have fled escalating fighting around the strategic city of el-Obeid in Sudan over the past two weeks, according to Save the Children. The United Nations has warned that up to 500,000 civilians in and around the city could be at risk if the violence intensifies further.
El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, is located about 360 kilometers southwest of Khartoum at a key junction connecting central Sudan with Darfur and the southern states. Since fighting escalated there in 2024, repeated clashes, shelling, and attacks on displacement camps have forced hundreds of thousands to flee, while hospitals, markets, and other civilian infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed.
Francesco Lanino, deputy country director for Save the Children in Sudan, highlighted that displacement impacts far more than housing. “For children, displacement is far more than the loss of a home,” he said. “It often means losing access to school, healthcare, clean water and the support networks that help them feel safe and protected.” Many displaced children have been forced to move multiple times, facing increasing risks to their safety, health, and wellbeing.
The conflict in el-Obeid marks a new phase in Sudan’s three-year civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). While international attention has largely focused on Khartoum and Darfur, recent intensified fighting in Kordofan has raised concerns about another acute humanitarian emergency unfolding.
Urgent action is needed to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need, and prevent further violence in the region.
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