Over 250,000 individuals have fled the conflict in a once-considered safe haven in Sudan, marking a significant shift in the ongoing civil war. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, have entered Wad Madani in al Jazira state, a city that was previously a sanctuary for those escaping the battles in the capital, Khartoum.
For months, both Khartoum and Wad Madani have served as refuge for many seeking safety. The recent incursion by the RSF has prompted mass displacement, with people in Wad Madani “scattering in different directions,” according to Will Carter, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s country director for Sudan.
Residents are fleeing with minimal belongings, and the situation is dire. A doctor from Wad Madani expressed the anguish of losing everything in a matter of seconds, emphasizing the challenge of finding a safe place.
Reports indicate that the RSF, engaged in conflict with the army, has attacked a hospital and taken control of a military base. Concerns are mounting internationally as the war, initiated in April, appears to be spreading.
Over the weekend, the US State Department urged the RSF to halt its advance on Wad Madani, highlighting the inconsistency of their actions with the stated goal of protecting Sudanese civilians. Wad Madani is also a critical aid hub.
Unicef’s Sudan director, Mandeep O’Brien, shared chilling stories from children and women who had already experienced harrowing journeys before being forced to flee once again. The conflict has caused immense trauma, especially for children.
Renewed fighting is reported in Nyala, a city in Sudan’s Darfur region, adding to the growing challenges faced by the nation.
The RSF and the army, once partners in power-sharing with civilians after the 2019 overthrow of Omar al-Bashir, staged a coup together in 2021. Disagreements over an internationally backed political transition plan led to the eruption of conflict in April, resulting in widespread displacement, destruction in Khartoum, a humanitarian crisis, and ethnically driven killings in Darfur. The situation remains complex and precarious, with the international community closely monitoring the evolving developments in Sudan.
