Sudan: Food shortages and collapsing services worsen conditions

The situation in El Obeid, Sudan, is extremely poor, as civilians displaced by fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) live in overcrowded conditions, according to the Middle East Monitor on September 1st. 

Before fighting erupted, El Obeid was home to roughly 500,000 residents. During the first six months of 2026, more than 200,000 fled to El Obeid, followed by another 15,000 families who arrived in mid-July, many suffering from severe hunger and deep psychological strain. Tens of thousands of displaced people are now living in the two main tent camps. From August 4th through 25th, one camp alone saw 800 additional tents appear, highlighting the rapidly worsening displacement crisis. 

The city has become a major destination for people fleeing violence elsewhere in North Kordofan and beyond. On July 6th, Maghrebi.org reported that the UN warned of the imminent risk of large-scale atrocities against hundreds of thousands of civilians, including internally displaced people. These atrocities include gender-based violence and the use of starvation as a method of warfare. 

The pressure on El Obeid has continued to grow as fighting spreads throughout the region. In August, renewed clashes in North Kordofan displaced more than 3,000 families, with people fleeing areas including Al-Jamama, Sodari and Abu Hadid towards El Obeid, Omdurman, Kosti and Khartoum. Many of those displaced endured journeys lasting up to two weeks, travelling on foot or in donkey-drawn carts and trucks.

The humanitarian situation is further aggravated by attacks on civilian infrastructure. On July 27th, the RSF attacked the city’s highway, which was under SAF control. In June, another alleged RSF drone assault killed 23 civilians and injured another 19 in El Obeid, also hitting residential neighbourhoods and areas around the city. In March, an attack targeted the city’s main power station, causing a widespread blackout and disrupting electricity supplies. 

Additionally, food, healthcare and other essential services are also under severe pressure. El Obeid’s strategic position as a key supply and transport hub makes access particularly vulnerable when conflict disrupts routes into the city. Disrupted medical supplies have also threatened healthcare access, deepening the risks faced by vulnerable civilians. The wider health crisis has added further strain, with a cholera outbreak killing 120 people by July 2.

With displacement continuing and essential infrastructure increasingly damaged, El Obeid is facing a mounting humanitarian emergency. Unless fighting subsides and humanitarian access improves, the city’s already overstretched resources are likely to face even greater pressure, leaving displaced families and residents increasingly vulnerable to hunger, disease and further violence. 

Maghrebi.org, Middle East Monitor