El-Obeid, December 20 (Darfur24)
The head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) mission in Sudan, Mohamed Rifaat, said that more than 50,000 people have been displaced across the Kordofan region since October 25, amid escalating hostilities, warning that the city of El Obeid is “one or two steps away” from coming under attack.
Speaking at the bi-weekly press conference of UN agencies in Geneva, Rifaat said that displacement in Kordofan is not occurring sporadically or by choice, but is driven by fear as violence intensifies.
He warned that up to half a million people could be affected in El Obeid, noting that civilians are fleeing areas around Babanusa, Kadugli, and El-Obeid. “Those who are lucky manage to reach White Nile State, but most of those arriving there are women and children,” he said.
Rifaat predicted that between 90,000 and 100,000 additional people could be displaced if fighting continues in Kadugli.
He also expressed deep concern about the situation in El Fasher, North Darfur, saying that IOM had recorded more than 109,000 people fleeing the city and surrounding villages, while many others remain trapped in nearby areas due to severe logistical and security constraints.
The IOM official warned of the grave consequences of funding cuts, revealing that the organization has lost nearly $83 million in support, forcing a significant reduction in its operational capacity.
“We are being forced to choose which lives we can save,” Rifaat said. “There are places where we know people are in desperate need, but we will not be able to help them because we have to prioritize those who are closest to death.”