Forced Disappearances: Narratives Reflecting the War Tragedy in Al-Jazira

The influx of displaced people continues from the eastern and northern regions of Al-Jazira State to the states of Gedaref and Kassala. Volunteers are working to provide shelter, and some organizations have quickly mobilized to offer urgent aid.

Arrival of Displaced Persons

Thousands of displaced people have arrived in New Halfa locality in Kassala State, which comprises dozens of villages and a main market, fleeing the east and north of Al-Jazira. Many recount stories of entire families fleeing under Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacks, with loved ones getting separated and disappearing. Reports from resistance committees in Wad Madani and Al-Hasaheisa indicate RSF forces have committed unprecedented violence in these regions, causing massacres in numerous villages.

This surge in documented abuses, some broadcast by soldiers on social media, has sparked widespread outrage among Sudanese as they witness the torture of the elderly and the killing of captives. In New Halfa, where many have arrived, shelters have been established in schools and government buildings to accommodate those escaping the violence. Alaa, a volunteer in New Halfa, told “Altra Sudan” that volunteers are working around the clock to help the displaced. Trucks have been arriving in the town, bringing dozens of people who have been placed in nearby villages due to limited housing options.

Alaa mentioned the heartbreak around missing persons during the displacement. Families often flee under RSF attacks with no knowledge of each other’s whereabouts. Volunteers are frequently shown photos or lists of names, hoping to identify loved ones in the shelters, but are often left disappointed without answers.

RSF forces’ violations in northern and eastern Al-Jazira threaten nearly 400,000 people with forced displacement, murder, and sexual violence against women and girls, with no imminent solutions as the military is not advancing into these areas, according to human rights monitors. Not long ago, Al-Jazira State witnessed another massacre in June 2024, in Wad Al-Nura village in southern Al-Jazira, which left around 133 people dead. The massacre drew condemnation from the UN, European nations, and the United States.