The United Nations announced today, Tuesday, that about 22,000 people have been displaced during the past seven days in Sudan’s Blue Nile State in the southeast of the country, due to escalating fighting in the Qeisan locality.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, “OCHA,” warned in a statement that the continued violence in Sudan still exposes civilians to danger and forces thousands of people to flee their homes.
The office explained that local authorities in Blue Nile State reported the displacement of about 22,000 people during the past seven days because of escalating fighting in the Qeisan locality, noting that the displaced people fled to various areas, including the city of Damazin, the state capital.
The Qeisan Emergency Room, a relief body, had announced on Sunday the displacement of about 20,000 people from the “City 12” area in the Qeisan locality, due to the fighting and the deterioration of the security situation.
Blue Nile State has witnessed a military escalation during the past two days, amid attacks launched by the Rapid Support Forces and the allied “Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North” on several areas in the state.
In a related context, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs pointed out that attacks targeting villages north and northwest of the city of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, on Saturday, resulted in casualties and the displacement of civilians, amid reports of looting of civilians’ property and livestock.
It added that civilians were killed and injured in West Darfur State, according to reports of a drone strike that targeted, last Thursday, a fuel market in the area of Edikong near the border with Chad.
The office renewed its call on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and infrastructure, respect international and humanitarian law, and allow humanitarian organizations to operate safely and independently.
The International Organization for Migration had announced on Monday the displacement of 450 people from the village of “Al-Qardoud Abu Zeid” in the Al-Rahad locality in North Kordofan State, due to escalating insecurity during one day.
In addition to Blue Nile and Darfur, the three states of the Kordofan region—North, West and South—have witnessed clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces since last October 25.
Since April 2023, Sudan has witnessed a war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of about 13 million people, according to United Nations and international estimates.
Source: News Agencies
