UN agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it’s deeply alarmed by the rapidly worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan’s Kordofan region, where escalating violence has driven a sharp surge in displacement.

The number of newly displaced people since the start of the escalation in October 2025 has increased by 65 per cent, rising from over 132,000 in February 2026 to more than 219,000 by late June, underscoring the accelerating impact of the conflict on civilians.

Since conflict erupted in April 2023, Kordofan has remained one of Sudan’s principal displacement epicentres. According to the latest available data, nearly one million IDPs, representing 11 per cent of Sudan’s total displaced population, were living across the region.

“Families have run out of safe options to protect themselves. Many have already been displaced before and are once again forced to leave behind their homes, livelihoods and support networks,” said Mohammed Refaat, IOM Chief of Mission in Sudan. “As violence continues to spread, safe access for humanitarian partners is essential to reach people whose needs are growing by the day.”

The surge has been driven by escalating insecurity. More than 100 displacement-triggering incidents have been recorded in less than nine months, averaging one major incident every two to three days. The scale and frequency of these incidents highlight a rapidly deteriorating protection environment in which families are repeatedly forced to flee in search of safety. El Obeid has become a key refuge for people escaping violence in surrounding areas, now it faces a looming threat of a full-scale invasion putting civilians further at risk.

El Obeid now hosts around 500,000 people, including more than 83,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). Repeated arrivals are placing mounting pressure on already overstretched shelter, basic services and humanitarian assistance, further straining the city’s capacity to support those seeking safety.

Humanitarian access remains severely constrained by active fighting, widespread insecurity and the growing threat of drone attacks across parts of Kordofan. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people, including communities in and around El Obeid, remain beyond the reach of life-saving assistance.

North Kordofan continues to serve as both a place of origin and a destination for displaced families. More than 288,000 displaced Sudanese originally come from the state, while it currently hosts over 234,000 IDPs across 667 displacement locations in eight localities.

Since violence intensified in October 2025, people fleeing Kordofan have sought refuge in more than 1,000 locations across 89 localities in 14 states, illustrating how the crisis has spread far beyond the region itself. North Kordofan remains among the principal destinations, currently hosting 33,465 people newly displaced by the recent escalation.

Together with humanitarian partners, IOM has pre-positioned essential household items, hygiene kits and 600 emergency tents to enable a rapid response as soon as access allows. However, escalating insecurity and severe funding shortfalls continue to limit the scale of humanitarian operations.

Across Sudan, more than 30 million people are expected to require humanitarian assistance in 2026. Yet humanitarian operations remain critically underfunded, with nearly USD 90 million still needed to sustain life-saving assistance, and early recovery efforts as needs continue to grow.

IOM remains deeply concerned by the escalating violence in Kordofan and its devastating impact on civilians. The Organization calls for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers with safe, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access so that life-saving assistance can reach communities in need.

Beatriz Ochoa, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) Regional Head of Advocacy for Latin America two weeks after earthquakes in Venezuela has spoken about the plight of survivors.

Ochoa, in a media update said: “Two weeks after the earthquakes struck Venezuela, many families who lost their homes have told me they are concerned about how they will meet their most basic needs. Thousands of people continue to live in temporary shelters, schools, parks and other public spaces. Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services is now becoming increasingly important to prevent health problems and the spread of disease.

“Many families are living in densely populated settings, with limited privacy, exposure to high temperatures and seasonal rains, and sometimes insufficient access to showers, soap and adequate sanitation facilities.

“I have seen families doing everything they can to maintain dignity in extremely difficult conditions. In one temporary shelter, I saw families organising themselves to keep common spaces clean, including through makeshift toilets and basic waste management arrangements. Their determination is remarkable, but families should not have to shoulder this burden alone.

“We urgently need support from international donors so we and other humanitarian organisations can provide access to safe water, toilets, hygiene supplies, and clear public health information to help reduce the risk of diarrhoeal diseases, skin infections and other preventable health problems among displaced families.

“Water is being delivered by tanker trucks to many temporary shelters, but families often lack appropriate containers to store it safely. Access to bottled water, showers and toilets remains limited in some locations. These challenges can be particularly difficult for older people, people with disabilities, pregnant women and families with young children.

“As displacement becomes more protracted, and the days turn into weeks, I have seen families beginning to organise daily life in temporary shelters, including preparing and cooking meals together. In these conditions, access to clean water remains essential to prevent disease and protect people’s health.

“Families need basic but essential items, including safe water containers, water purification tablets, soap, chlorine, sanitary pads and tarpaulins.

“NRC has already provided 1,400 displaced people with soap and other hygiene items, water tanks, and jerrycans for safe water storage. We will also be distributing tarpaulins to help protect families protect from exposure to the elements and have supported first responders with personal protective equipment for search and rescue activities.

“As the response evolves, we will work with communities, authorities, and humanitarian actors to establish more suitable solutions, including larger-scale water storage and treatment systems, improved sanitation facilities and community showers that provide greater privacy and dignity.

“The first days of this response were driven by the community. The world should know that this solidarity is not simply a gesture—it is a vital necessity. But it is now time for funding and aid to flow in and support longer-term solutions so people can take the first steps to rebuilding their lives.”

The Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR) Nigeria has called on the Nigerian government to impose diplomatic and economic consequences on South Africa over the recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians, while urging authorities to provide comprehensive support for citizens who have returned home.

In a statement issued on July 1 and signed by the organisation’s Executive Director, Solomon Okoduwa, IYAMIDR commended the Federal Government and the Edo State Government for coordinating the rescue and safe return of Nigerians affected by the violence in Southern Africa.

The organisation, however, said the successful evacuation of victims should not mark the end of the government’s response, stressing that those responsible for failing to prevent the attacks must be held accountable.

According to IYAMIDR, the repeated incidents of xenophobic violence represent a political and moral failure on the part of South African authorities. It urged the Nigerian government to adopt targeted diplomatic and political sanctions, including a review of bilateral agreements and increased scrutiny of South African investments operating in Nigeria.

The group also called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency and the National Assembly to publish a clear sanctions and engagement framework within 14 days.

Beyond diplomatic action, IYAMIDR appealed to both the federal and state governments to establish an emergency Reintegration and Livelihood Fund for returnees.

It said many of those evacuated lost businesses, homes and livelihoods during the attacks and now require psychosocial support, medical care, skills assessment, housing assistance and financial grants to rebuild their lives.

The organisation stressed that any intervention fund should be transparent, independently monitored and include mechanisms through which beneficiaries can report delays or corruption.

IYAMIDR further urged the Edo State Government to move beyond receiving returnees by fully implementing its Reintegration Master Plan.

According to the group, the plan should focus on employment opportunities, cooperative financing, trauma counselling and community-based programmes aimed at restoring the dignity and economic independence of returnees.

The organisation maintained that the issue extends beyond South Africa, describing it as a test of Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens wherever they may be.

IYAMIDR pledged to continue monitoring developments and advocating for justice, accountability and effective reintegration of Nigerians affected by the attacks.