Key facts
- Humanitarian conditions in El Obeid, Sudan, are deteriorating due to an influx of internally displaced people.
- Over 15,000 families have arrived in El Obeid since mid-July, straining resources.
- New arrivals face severe shortages of food, water, and sanitation.
- Drone strikes, particularly "double-tap" attacks, continue to pose a threat to civilians and rescuers.
- Food prices have significantly increased, with groundnut oil costing 17,000 Sudanese pounds per litre in July.
- Water and power infrastructure in El Obeid remains damaged from previous drone attacks.
Humanitarian conditions in El Obeid, Sudan, are rapidly deteriorating as a continuous influx of internally displaced people (IDPs) strains the city's resources. Civilians fleeing the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia are arriving daily, with over 15,000 families reaching El Obeid since mid-July alone.
These new arrivals, many of whom are women and children, are arriving with virtually nothing and face severe shortages of food and water. The city, which was home to around half a million people before the war, is now shockingly overcrowded. Tens of thousands are living in makeshift tented camps on the outskirts, where sanitation is critically poor, with over 100 people sharing a single latrine.
The conflict, which began in Khartoum in April 2023, has displaced approximately 11.3 million people nationwide, and parts of the country, including El Obeid, are at risk of famine. The use of drones by both sides, particularly the RSF, has become a dominant feature of the conflict, accounting for half of all violent incidents. "Double-tap" strikes, where a second drone targets rescuers, have been noted, adding to the trauma and danger for civilians and aid workers.
Infrastructure in El Obeid has also suffered, with significant damage to water sources and pipes from RSF drone attacks in June, leading to a reliance on insufficient water trucking. Food prices have skyrocketed, with groundnut oil more than doubling in price over the past year. Despite the worsening situation and ongoing threats, local volunteers remain committed to providing aid.