Save the Children has reported that more than 5,500 children have been newly displaced due to fighting around the strategic Sudanese city of El-Obeid, with thousands more at risk. The charity highlighted that families arriving at displacement sites and local communities face increasingly difficult living conditions, including limited access to shelter, clean water, healthcare, and education services. Overcrowding is further straining already scarce resources.
A civilian named Emad, living in El-Obeid with his family, described the situation in June as "extremely challenging," noting heavy drone attacks that hit about 11 fuel stations, fuel tankers, and water tankers within the city.
The conflict and siege-like conditions have also worsened a seasonal cholera outbreak, with 300 cases confirmed by Sudan’s State Ministry of Health. Francesco Lanino, deputy country director for Save the Children in Sudan, emphasized that displacement for children means more than losing a home; it often results in losing access to essential services and support networks that provide safety and protection.
The city of El-Obeid is currently surrounded by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), raising concerns it could face a fate similar to the Darfur capital, El-Fasher, where RSF fighters seized control after an 18-month siege in October. During that siege, rights groups documented mass killings and sexual violence against civilians, including children.
The United Nations has issued a 'red alert' over the human rights situation in El-Obeid, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.
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