The humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s El Obeid has intensified sharply as thousands of civilians displaced by the country’s ongoing civil war continue to arrive in the city, placing already overstretched food, water, sanitation and shelter systems under severe pressure.
More than 15,000 families have reached El Obeid since mid-July, according to United Nations figures, adding to more than 200,000 people who had fled to the city during the first half of the year, government figures cited by Save the Children show. Aid workers and humanitarian volunteers on the ground have described the situation as increasingly desperate, with the city struggling to accommodate the continuing influx of internally displaced people.
El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan province, had a population of roughly half a million before the war began in April 2023. The city has since become a major refuge for civilians escaping fighting in surrounding areas. Many of the latest arrivals are reaching the city on foot and carrying few belongings. Humanitarian workers say a large proportion are women and children, while many men remain behind to tend to farms during the agricultural season.
Tens of thousands of displaced people are now living in two major makeshift camps on the outskirts of El Obeid. Satellite analysis by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab found that around 800 new tents were erected in one of the camps between August 4 and August 25, highlighting the speed at which the displaced population is growing.
The continuing violence is making conditions even more difficult. Sudan has been engulfed in a war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. The conflict has devastated communities across the country and displaced about 11.3 million people, representing more than one-fifth of Sudan’s population. Several areas, including El Obeid and parts of North Kordofan, are also facing the risk of famine.
El Obeid itself has come under repeated drone attacks. A surge in attacks by the RSF in June prompted warnings that the city could face a situation similar to El Fasher, where a prolonged siege and subsequent fighting caused widespread civilian suffering. Although the frequency of attacks has declined and government forces regained control of an important road linking the city to Khartoum in late July, drone strikes continue to threaten civilians.
Humanitarian workers have also reported an increase in so-called “double-tap” attacks, in which a second strike follows an initial attack and targets people arriving to help the victims. The attacks have created an atmosphere of constant fear among residents and aid workers.
Drones have become an increasingly important feature of Sudan’s conflict. According to conflict monitoring data cited by humanitarian analysts, drone attacks now account for about half of violent incidents in the country, compared with only about 4% at the beginning of the war. Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces have used drones, with civilian areas increasingly caught in the crossfire.
The violence has also contributed to a sharp rise in food prices. Disruptions and threats to supply routes have made it increasingly difficult for trucks to deliver essential commodities. World Food Programme data showed that in North Kordofan the price of a litre of groundnut oil reached 17,000 Sudanese pounds in July, compared with 13,000 pounds in June and 7,700 pounds a year earlier. Prices of wheat flour and goat and sheep meat have also risen substantially over the past year.
Water and electricity infrastructure in El Obeid has yet to fully recover from the June drone attacks. A major water source north of the city was severely damaged and remains unrepaired, while sections of the water distribution network have also been affected. Hospitals and displacement camps are therefore increasingly dependent on water delivered by tankers, although humanitarian agencies say supplies remain inadequate.
Sanitation is another major concern. Conditions in the displacement camps have deteriorated because of a severe shortage of toilets. Humanitarian officials say there are reportedly more than 100 people sharing a single latrine in some locations, forcing many residents to resort to open defecation and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Despite the worsening circumstances, local volunteers and humanitarian organisations continue to assist displaced families. Aid workers say their efforts are being carried out under extremely difficult conditions, with limited resources, insecurity and continuing population movements making it increasingly challenging to provide basic assistance.
The growing crisis in El Obeid reflects the wider humanitarian catastrophe caused by Sudan’s war. With millions displaced, food insecurity spreading and violence continuing across several regions, humanitarian agencies face mounting pressure to provide assistance to civilians while access to affected communities remains constrained by insecurity.
