An estimated 250,000 people have fled the Sudanese city of Wad Madani as violence intensifies between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the army. Once regarded as a safe haven for those escaping the civil war, Wad Madani has seen a surge in residents seeking refuge from the conflict in the capital, Khartoum.
The RSF, engaged in a protracted conflict with the army, has advanced into Wad Madani, causing widespread panic and displacement. Aid workers on the ground report that people are “scattering in different directions,” and the situation is dire for those forced to flee with minimal belongings and no clear destination.
Will Carter, the country director for Sudan at the Norwegian Refugee Council, described the desperate situation, stating that people are “fleeing with nothing more than the clothes on their back with nowhere really to turn to, to go to.” The displacement represents a severe humanitarian crisis with potentially devastating consequences for the affected population.
Residents in Wad Madani have reported RSF attacks on a hospital and the occupation of an army base, indicating an escalation in hostilities. A doctor from Wad Madani, currently seeking safety with his family, expressed the profound impact of the conflict, stating, “Imagine how it feels when you don’t have any place to go, when all your years, your work, your glory, is gone within seconds. It is hard to speak.”
International concerns are mounting as reports suggest that the conflict, which began in April, is spreading. The US State Department has called on the RSF to cease its advance on Wad Madani, emphasising the inconsistency of the group’s actions with its stated goal of protecting Sudanese civilians. Wad Madani is not only a city in turmoil but also a major aid hub, raising fears about the disruption of crucial humanitarian assistance.
Additionally, there are reports of renewed fighting in Nyala, a city in Sudan’s western Darfur region, further highlighting the growing complexity and reach of the conflict. As the crisis deepens, the global community is closely monitoring the situation, emphasising the urgent need for a peaceful resolution and increased efforts to protect the civilian population caught in the crossfire.
Kiki Garba
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