Kathmandu— More than 200,000 people have been newly displaced across Sudan’s Kordofan region as a result of escalating conflict that began in April 2023, according to the United Nations. The displacement is compounded by ongoing drone attacks targeting essential water and electricity infrastructure in El Obeid, the region's largest city, and recent seasonal flooding in North Darfur state. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a warning on Wednesday highlighting the deteriorating humanitarian situation as families are forced to flee violence with limited access to basic necessities. The conflict has also led to widespread infrastructure damage and stretched resources beyond capacity.

Escalating Displacement Crisis

Displacement in the Sheikan district, including El Obeid, has increased by 25 percent over the past eight months, according to IOM data. In addition to Kordofan, approximately 78,000 people have been displaced in Blue Nile state and another 18,000 in West Darfur during the first half of August. Heavy rains in North Darfur’s Tawila area have further exacerbated the crisis, damaging nearly 1,350 homes and displacing over 1,000 families.

Infrastructure Under Attack

Repeated fighting and drone attacks on El Obeid's main power transformer have disrupted electricity supply, impacting essential services like water pumping, hospital operations, and communication networks. Al Jazeera’s Almigdad Alruhaid reported from a road leading to El Obeid that drones belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are targeting army vehicles, oil tankers, and cargo trucks, worsening the humanitarian situation. Despite enduring one of the longest sieges of the war, the RSF continues to attack nearby villages.

Widespread Humanitarian Needs

The UN estimates that 33.7 million people in Sudan require humanitarian assistance. IOM Director General Amy Pope stated, “Sudan is one of the world’s largest displacement crises,” adding that the combined impact of conflict, infrastructure damage and flooding is pushing families to their limits. Before the war, El Obeid had a population of 750,000; authorities now estimate it has swelled to 3.4 million people, including nearly 39,000 children who arrived in the first six months of this year, according to Save the Children.

National Scale of Crisis

Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, an estimated 59,000 people have been killed and 8.6 million internally displaced within Sudan. Additionally, over 4.2 million Sudanese citizens have sought refuge in neighboring countries.

The situation remains dire as fighting continues and humanitarian needs grow across Sudan, with no immediate resolution to the conflict in sight.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.