Port Sudan: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Sunday a large displacement in the city of El Fasher, the center of North Darfur state in western Sudan, due to renewed clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
The international organization said in a statement that “renewed clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in the city of El Fasher in North Darfur state, on Saturday, and the army forces launched air strikes targeting the positions of the Rapid Support Forces in the northern and eastern neighborhoods of the city.”
“Field teams reported that the event led to widespread displacement, and the affected families sought refuge in the southern neighborhoods inside the city of El Fasher,” it added.
“Estimates on the number of displaced people have not yet been confirmed, and the situation remains tense and unpredictable,” it said.
As of 21:08 (GMT), neither the Sudanese army nor the RSF had commented on the UN statement.
In recent months, the RSF has managed to take control of the capitals of four of the five states that make up the Darfur region: Nyala in the center of South Darfur state, El Daein in the center of East Darfur state, Zalingei in the center of Central Darfur state, in addition to El Geneina, the center of West Darfur state.
For its part, the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced on Sunday that 8 million Sudanese have been displaced from their homes inside and outside the country since the outbreak of fighting between the army and the Rapid Support in mid-April 2023.
Ten months after the outbreak of war between the Sudanese military and the RSF on April 15 last year, Sudan is facing one of the fastest unfolding crises globally, with unprecedented needs emerging in such a short period.
“More than 8 million people, about 15 percent of the country’s total population, have fled their homes since the conflict began, including 6.2 million displaced inside the country and 1.8 million to neighboring countries, making Sudan the world’s largest displacement crisis,” it added.
Statement pointed out that “4 million children are among the displaced, so Sudan faces the largest child displacement crisis in the world.”
“Some 25 million people, including more than 14 million children, need humanitarian assistance and support,” the UN office said.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan’s military and RSF have been fighting a war that has left more than 13,000 dead and millions displaced and refugees, according to the United Nations.
(Anatolia)/Al-Yurae
