Thousands of residents in southern Sudan have fled their homes amid violent clashes between the General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the UN said Sunday.
The unrest erupted last week in Um Rawaba, North Kordofan, forcing between 1,000 and 3,000 households to flee in just five days.
The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported the mass displacement, citing escalating security concerns as the main driver.
The ongoing violence has devastated communities and heightened fears of widespread famine.
North Kordofan, now a hotspot of instability, has seen over 205,000 displaced individuals, according to recent UN statistics.
Across Sudan, the crisis has displaced 11.5 million people, making it the largest internal displacement crisis globally, the UN stated.
Clashes in the region coincided with a military advance in Al-Jazira state, located approximately 300 kilometers northeast.
Civilians in affected areas face harrowing conditions, with limited access to safety, food, and humanitarian aid.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned last month that famine has gripped parts of western and southern Sudan.
Emergency hunger levels threaten 350,000 people in North Kordofan, with the crisis expanding rapidly.
UN agencies stress that only a ceasefire can halt the famine’s spread, as nearly half of Sudan’s population—24.6 million people—grapple with acute food insecurity.
The prolonged conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and pushed the nation to the edge of collapse.
The humanitarian community continues to appeal for immediate action to end hostilities and prevent further suffering in a country on the brink of catastrophe.
