Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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December 19, 2025 Peace and security
Amid escalating fighting in Sudan, people frightened by the scale of the violence are fleeing their homes en masse, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Friday. According to the organization, approximately 50,000 people have been forced to flee in Kordofan alone since the end of October.
“People are not moving of their own free will; they are fleeing out of desperation and in the hope of finding a safe place,” said Mohamed Refaat, IOM’s head of mission in Sudan.
Speaking via video link from Port Sudan to reporters in Geneva, Refaat called on all UN member states and "all those who can support the people of Sudan" to ensure their protection.
Shelling of residential buildings
Latest reports from the war-torn country indicate that the Rapid Reaction Force (RRF), along with its allies from the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), have been shelling residential buildings in the town of Dilling, South Kordofan, for the past 48 hours.
The SRF has been waging war against the Sudanese army since April 2023, following the collapse of the transition to civilian rule. In late October, after a 500-day siege, they captured El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, triggering a new wave of mass displacement. Humanitarian organizations are deeply concerned about the fate of those still remaining in the city, who are reportedly forced to eat peanut shells and animal feed.
"People are scared"
"The mass exodus from Kordofan is no accident. It's a sign that people are extremely frightened," Refaat said.
Humanitarian organizations are expressing alarm over the rapidly deteriorating situation in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan state, where six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed in drone strikes last Saturday. The Blue Helmets were stationed at a logistics base for the UN mission in Abyei, a disputed region bordering South Sudan.
Hundreds of thousands of lives are at risk
"We estimate that there are still approximately 90,000 to 100,000 people in the city of Kadugli who will be forced to flee their homes if the fighting continues and if they have the opportunity to leave the city," Refaat said. He added that El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, is "one or two steps away from becoming the next target," which would affect more than half a million local residents.
Asked about the impact of severe funding cuts to humanitarian activities in Sudan and beyond, the IOM chief of mission reported that the agency had lost $83 million in resources this year alone. This has forced humanitarian teams to massively reduce their presence in Sudan.
"Because of these cuts, we have to choose who we can save and what support we have to cut off," Refaat said. "We pass by places every day where people are in dire straits, but we can't help because we have to prioritize those who are literally one step away from death."
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.