Humanitarian conditions in Sudan's El Obeid and two camps on its outskirts are described as dire and deteriorating, with traumatised civilians arriving daily as they flee fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
Key facts
- Conditions in El Obeid and two nearby camps are described as dire and deteriorating.
- The UN says more than 15,000 families have arrived since mid-July.
- More than 200,000 people arrived in the first half of the year, according to government figures cited by Save the Children.
- Civilians are fleeing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
- Camps are described as 'shockingly overcrowded', with more people arriving every day.
Humanitarian conditions in the Sudanese city of El Obeid and two camps on its outskirts are dire and deteriorating, according to people on the ground cited by the Guardian, as civilians displaced by fighting continue to pour in from the surrounding countryside.
The displacement is being driven by ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. Civilians fleeing the fighting have been arriving in El Obeid and its outlying camps in growing numbers.
The UN says more than 15,000 families have arrived since mid-July. They join more than 200,000 people who arrived in the first half of the year, according to government figures cited by Save the Children.
According to the Guardian, the situation is compounded by the daily arrival of more traumatised civilians, adding pressure to sites already described as ‘shockingly overcrowded’.
People on the ground describe conditions that are worsening as the influx continues, with the city and camps struggling to absorb those seeking refuge from the violence in the countryside.
The scale of arrivals reported by the UN and Save the Children underscores the growing strain on El Obeid, which has become a refuge for civilians displaced by Sudan’s civil war.
Why it matters
Sudan's civil war has displaced large numbers of civilians, and cities like El Obeid are struggling to cope with the sheer scale of arrivals. Overcrowded and deteriorating conditions raise urgent concerns about the welfare of hundreds of thousands of displaced people seeking safety.
Frequently asked questions
How many people have arrived in El Obeid?
The UN says more than 15,000 families have arrived since mid-July, joining more than 200,000 people who arrived in the first half of the year, according to government figures cited by Save the Children.
Why are civilians fleeing to El Obeid?
Civilians are being displaced by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia and are arriving from the surrounding countryside.
What are conditions like in El Obeid and its camps?
Conditions are described as dire, deteriorating and 'shockingly overcrowded', with more traumatised civilians arriving every day, according to people on the ground cited by the Guardian.