Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in El Obeid Amid Sudan Civil War

Humanitarian conditions are deteriorating in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan province, as civilians flee ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since mid-July, more than 15,000 families have arrived in the city, joining over 200,000 displaced people who arrived earlier this year.

The influx has caused severe overcrowding in tented camps where sanitation is critical and some latrines serve over 100 people. Residents face acute shortages of food and water due to damaged infrastructure and rocketed prices. While the Sudanese Armed Forces recaptured a key road to Khartoum in late July, civilians continue to suffer from drone strikes, including double-tap attacks targeting rescuers.

Conflict tracking data indicates that drones now account for half of all violent incidents in the civil war. The RSF has utilized targeted strikes as its supply lines were interrupted by the U.S. war with Iran. This escalation follows a pattern of violence including an October 2025 massacre of over 10,000 people by the RSF in El Fasher.