Fresh fighting in North Darfur’s war-torn capital, El-Fasher, has caused a sharp rise in the number of displaced people, tripling figures this year alone in Tawila, a town about 60 kilometers away, according to a UN migration official.
Ugochi Daniels, Deputy Director General for Operations at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told the Associated Press on Thursday that the violence has also cut El-Fasher’s population by 62 percent in 2025.
She cautioned that the growing displacement poses serious challenges for Sudan, reinforcing what aid agencies have described as the world’s largest displacement crisis.
The recent surge in displacement follows intensified clashes in El-Fasher, where the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to battle for control of the city.
The war between the RSF and the military erupted in 2023 after tensions escalated between the two groups, once allies tasked with steering Sudan toward democratic governance following the 2019 uprising.
According to the World Health Organization, the conflict has killed at least 40,000 people and forced nearly 12 million others from their homes. The World Food Programme reports that over 24 million Sudanese are now facing severe food insecurity.
“North Darfur is the heart of this humanitarian crisis,” Daniels said. “We urgently need peace to reach those in the hardest-hit areas where needs are most desperate.”
El-Fasher remains the army’s final stronghold in the Darfur region, one of the areas worst affected by the ongoing violence alongside Kordofan.
Daniels added that providing aid has become increasingly difficult as massive population movements and the breakdown of essential services, including health care, clean water, and food supply have crippled humanitarian operations.
The ongoing conflict and widespread displacement continue to block millions from accessing basic necessities, leaving communities in dire need of support.
