Mohamed Refaat, IOM Head of Mission in Sudan, stated, “The Sudanese are not moving by choice, they are simply fleeing to find safety.” From Port Sudan, he urged all member states and supporters to ensure the protection of the Sudanese people. The latest reports indicate the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) allies have bombed residential buildings in Dilling, South Kordofan, in the last 48 hours. The RSF has been in conflict with the Sudanese army since April 2023 after a failed civilian transition. On October 26, paramilitary forces invaded El Fasher, North Darfur’s regional capital, after a 500-day siege, causing further mass displacements. Concerns remain for those still trapped, surviving on peanut shells and animal food. Refaat noted, “Displacements from Kordofan are not sporadic; they happen because people are afraid,” highlighting that people are fleeing Babanusa, Kadugli, and El-Obeid. He expressed concern for vulnerable women and children arriving in the White Nile and Gedaref. Across Sudan, deep insecurity and violence persist, increasing protection risks and hampering humanitarian assistance. The situation worsens in Kadugli, Southern Kordofan’s capital, where last Saturday six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed in drone attacks. Refaat estimated 90,000 to 100,000 people could be displaced if fighting continues in Kadugli. El-Obeid, North Kordofan’s capital, might soon be attacked, potentially affecting over half a million people. In El Fasher, the IOM recorded over 109,000 people fleeing the city and surrounding villages after the RSF takeover in late October. Many remain stuck in neighboring villages due to logistical and security issues. Severe funding cuts, causing the IOM to lose $83 million in resources this year, have forced a significant reduction in humanitarian efforts. “Because of these cuts, we have to choose which lives we can save and which support we have to stop,” Refaat explained, emphasizing the prioritization of those in dire need.
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