Geneva – The International Organization for Migration has reported that more than 10,000 people were displaced in Sudan’s Blue Nile State, in the southeast of the country, during three weeks in May. The displacement was driven by escalating military attacks in areas previously controlled by the Rapid Support Forces.
According to the organization’s latest report, the total number of displaced people in the state reached about 59,742 individuals. This includes 11,956 families who were uprooted between January 11 and May 21.
The report notes that the number of displaced people increased by 21% between May 24 and May 27, with the figure rising from 49,512 to more than 59,000 during this period.
Those displaced have spread across seven main areas, including Damazin, Al-Rusairis, Al-Tadamun, and Wad Al-Mahi, as well as regions inside Al-Kurmuk, Bao, and Qaisan.
The report detailed that 72% of the newly displaced people have sought refuge in informal gathering sites, while 21% were hosted by local families. Around 7% are living in schools and public buildings.
This latest wave of displacement comes amid ongoing armed conflict in Sudan. Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has killed thousands and forced millions of people to flee their homes, both inside and outside the country.