What's happened
The IOM has warned that violence, water and power cuts, and destructive floods are worsening Sudan's displacement crisis. More than 8.6 million people have been displaced since April 2023, with further outbreaks of violence and infrastructure damage pushing families to the brink. Aid delivery is constrained by blocked shipping routes and supply delays.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The UN and IOM frame displacement as a growing, multi-faceted crisis, linking conflict, infrastructure damage and climate shocks.
- The latest updates focus on the El Obeid power transformer outages and resulting water, health and telecom disruptions as a key driver of humanitarian stress.
- Readers should note that the crisis has been evolving since 2023; a return to stability seems distant as aid chains face new bottlenecks from regional tensions and floods.
- This story will likely influence donors and policymakers to sustain lifesaving operations and expand shelter, water and energy support for affected populations.
How we got here
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF began in April 2023. The conflict has repeatedly damaged infrastructure, triggering widespread displacement. Seasonal floods compound humanitarian needs, while Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz blockages threaten aid deliveries. The IOM reports rising displacement across Khartoum, Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur, with hundreds of thousands seeking shelter domestically and abroad.
Our analysis
- All Africa reports on IOM briefings and Khartoum displacement trends, noting 8.6 million internally displaced. - Al Jazeera highlights the El Obeid power outages and 59,000 killed since 2023, with 4.2 million refugees/outflows and ongoing RSF activity. - Cross-agency synthesis from All Africa consolidates supply-chain delays through Red Sea/Strait of Hormuz as a critical bottleneck.
Go deeper
- What is the current humanitarian funding gap for Sudan, and how are agencies addressing it?
- How are civilians in El Obeid and Khartoum coping with power, water and healthcare outages?
- What happens next if supply routes remain blocked or floods worsen?
More on these topics
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International Organization for Migration - Intergovernmental organization
The International Organization for Migration is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.
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Sudan - Country in North Africa
Sudan, officially the Republic of the Sudan, is a country in North-East Africa. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, Libya to the northwest, Chad to the west, the Central African Republic to the southwest, South Sudan to the south, Ethiopia to the southe
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Ethiopia - Country in East Africa
Ethiopia, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south, South Sudan to the west and Sudan to
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Red Sea - Inlet
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden.
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Strait of Hormuz - Strait
The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points.
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Khartoum - Capital of Sudan
Khartoum or Khartum is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan, the sixth-largest in Africa, the second-largest in North Africa, and the fourth-largest in the Arab world.