Displaced families in Sudan are once again on the move as the conflict escalates, forcing them to flee for safety amid clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF on the outskirts of Wad Madani.
Resurgence in violence, marking the ninth month of a civil war, has led to a renewed exodus of families seeking refuge.
The city of Wad Madani, previously a sanctuary for many affected by the conflict between Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces, found itself cut off as the army prevented civilians from entering.
Fighter jets flying overhead and the sight of billowing black smoke from explosions in the city’s northern periphery added to the escalating tension.
Al Jazira state, home to Wad Madani and accommodating around half a million displaced individuals according to UN estimates, had initially been shielded from the conflict.
However, recent months have witnessed incursions by fighters, prompting the militarization of the region and the establishment of checkpoints along the villages between Khartoum and Wad Madani.
The ongoing power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has resulted in a devastating toll, with more than 12,190 lives lost, as per estimates by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.
The humanitarian crisis deepens, with over 5.4 million internally displaced persons and nearly 1.5 million seeking refuge across borders, according to the UN.
The current situation mirrors the early days of the conflict in Khartoum, as shops hastily closed their doors while families, carrying whatever possessions they could, flooded the streets in search of a way southwards, struggling to secure transportation.
In a statement, the Rapid Support Forces aimed to reassure citizens in Al Jazira and Wad Madani, asserting their mission to dismantle the army’s strongholds.
However, both sides face accusations of indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, alongside reports of targeting, looting, and harassment of civilians, further exacerbating the crisis.
