Published on: 2026-08-19
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 19, 2026 Refugees and migrants
On Wednesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations reported that the escalation of hostilities in Sudan since the end of 2025 has forced at least 200,000 more people to leave their homes. Devastating seasonal floods only worsen the humanitarian disaster.
The organization also warned that delivering aid to the people of Sudan is complicated by disruptions in global supply chains related to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Since the beginning of the conflict in April 2023, a total of 8.6 million people have left their homes across Sudan. A significant number of refugees continue to seek shelter in neighboring countries.
IOM Director General Amy Pope emphasized that the ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure have pushed families to the brink of survival.
“The warning signals simply cannot be ignored. Throughout Sudan, people are fleeing violence, losing access to water, electricity, and medicine, and now are also suffering from devastating floods,” she stated. “Without urgent measures to protect the civilian population and ensure basic services, the scale of the disaster will only increase.”
The situation in different regions
In the state of North Kordofan (south of the central part of the country), prolonged power outages have begun due to fierce fighting and drone strikes on the main power substation in the city of El-Obeid. The operation of pumping stations and hospitals has also been disrupted, and there are reports of communication problems.
In the Sheikan district (North Kordofan state), the number of displaced persons has increased by 25 percent over the past eight months. Overall, in the Kordofan region, which includes the states of West, North, and South Kordofan, more than 200,000 people have left their homes since the end of 2025.
Clashes in the city of Geissan (Blue Nile state) and its surroundings forced about 7,800 people to flee (some of them crossed the border into Ethiopia). In West Darfur state alone, 18,000 people fled their homes in the first half of August. In North Darfur state, heavy rains last week destroyed or damaged around 1,350 structures in the overcrowded Tawila camps, leaving more than 1,000 families homeless. Due to flooding in the towns of Kabkabia and Shangil-Tobaya, dozens more families were forced to move to temporary shelters.
According to IOM data, a significant number of people continue to return to the country’s capital, the city of Khartoum.
Humanitarian aid
Over the past three days, IOM has delivered 1,750 tons of goods to the affected areas, including 17,750 hygiene kits and 850 tents.
Assistance has already been received by 110,750 people in the areas with the most acute needs. In the coming days, this figure will exceed 400,000.
“The displacement crisis in Sudan is one of the largest in the world,” Pope said. “IOM is doing everything possible to save lives, but we urgently need support to continue deliveries and provide shelter for people.”
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.