Displacement is expanding across North Darfur, with thousands of civilians fleeing El Fasher and its surrounding areas for Tawila because of attacks by the Rapid Support Forces, while displaced people are leaving Tawila for unspecified areas under pressure from food shortages, a lack of aid and the approaching fighting. This comes amid UN and local warnings of a worsening humanitarian situation and growing risks facing thousands of civilians, particularly children and women.
Attacks on aid convoys disrupt the delivery of assistance
Relief operations are facing a worsening crisis because of repeated attacks on convoys and humanitarian facilities. World Food Programme offices have come under attack eight times since the start of this year, disrupting its operations, while the warring parties have failed to reach an agreement on safe routes to deliver aid to tens of thousands of people in need.
International borders pose another obstacle to the flow of supplies, particularly along the Sudan-Chad border, where crossings have been closed several times. At the same time, attacks by the Rapid Support Forces on El Fasher and its surrounding areas have driven thousands of displaced people to Tawila, amid international condemnation of violations and killings attributed to those attacks.
Drought intensifies famine warnings in Darfur
Humanitarian concerns have worsened because of a drought wave and scarce rainfall this year, prompting the United Nations to warn of an imminent famine. The General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur has also warned of a threat to the lives of thousands of civilians, identifying children and women as among those most exposed to the consequences of shortages of food and aid.
Fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces is complicating civilian movement and displacement routes. The Rapid Support Forces control five states in the Darfur region, except for parts of North and West Darfur, while the army insists it will retake control of the region. The Rapid Support Forces remain committed to the areas under their control, leaving open the possibility that the fighting will continue.
Attacks escalate in North Kordofan
In North Kordofan state, attacks have focused on El Obeid, the state capital, which was hit by three drone attacks during the week, injuring several civilians. At the same time, the army carried out air strikes on Rapid Support Forces positions in Umm Badr, Umm Zaima, Hamrat al-Sheikh and Al Mazroub, as well as in the city of Sodari, which it has retaken.
Developments on the ground indicate that the army is nearing control of the Rapid Support Forces' last positions in North Kordofan. Both sides are using drones extensively in their operations, widening the war's geographical scope and the area in which civilians are exposed to attacks, while compounding the humanitarian consequences of the fighting and displacement.
The Sudanese army and the Joint Force of armed movements retook control of the strategic city of Sodari in North Kordofan on 25 September 2026, after fighting with the Rapid Support Forces. The city had remained under Rapid Support Forces control for more than two years, while observers considered its recapture a battlefield gain that could affect the conflict map in western Sudan.
Data from the International Organization for Migration, issued on 22 September 2026, showed that around 3,650 people had been displaced from the town of Umm Badr in the Sodari locality between 20 and 22 September, because of deteriorating security and the military escalation in the area.
