The head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) mission in Sudan, Mohamed Rifaat, stated that over 50,000 people have been displaced in Kordofan since October 25 amid escalating hostilities.
Speaking at the mid-week UN press briefing in Geneva, Rifaat warned that “people in Sudan do not flee by choice,” adding that displacement in Kordofan is not scattered but driven by fear.
Displaced individuals are fleeing areas around Babnose, Kadugli, and Al-Obeid. Those who reach the White Nile are primarily women and children. Rifaat estimated that between 90,000 and 100,000 people may be displaced if fighting continues in Kadugli.
He added that nearly half a million people in Al-Obeid could be affected if the city becomes the next target.
Regarding Al-Fashir, Rifaat noted that over 109,000 people have fled the city and surrounding villages, with many still stranded in nearby areas due to logistical and security challenges.
He warned about the consequences of reduced funding, stating, “We may have to choose whose lives to save and which aid to halt,” adding that the organization has lost nearly $83 million, forcing a significant reduction in field capacity.
