Displacement Crisis Deepens in El Obeid as Conflict Tightens Grip on City

EL OBEID, July 10, 2026 - El Obeid, the capital of Sudan’s North Kordofan State, is facing mounting humanitarian pressure as tens of thousands of displaced people continue to arrive despite an ongoing siege and repeated drone attacks.

The city has become a major refuge for civilians fleeing violence in South and West Kordofan, even as it remains surrounded on three sides by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The deteriorating security situation has heightened concerns over the safety of residents and the possibility of a broader military offensive.

Drone strikes have repeatedly targeted critical infrastructure and the city's main supply route linking El Obeid to Kosti in White Nile State. The attacks have disrupted transport, damaged commercial vehicles, and contributed to sharp increases in the prices of food and other essential goods.

Between March and June, more than 11,000 families, representing around 60,000 people, reportedly arrived in El Obeid, pushing the city's population to an estimated 3.2 million. Nearly half of the residents are now internally displaced, living in temporary camps or with host families.

The growing humanitarian emergency has been compounded by the collapse of local economic activity. Many displaced families struggle to meet their daily needs as employment opportunities disappear and businesses close.

El Obeid’s once-active industrial sector has been severely affected by disruptions in the supply of agricultural products and prolonged electricity shortages. Most of the city's oil-processing factories have suspended operations, leaving many workers without income.

Recent drone attacks on fuel facilities have further worsened the crisis, causing severe fuel shortages and driving prices sharply higher on the black market.

As conflict continues to disrupt livelihoods and humanitarian access, aid agencies warn that the needs of displaced communities are increasing rapidly, placing additional strain on the city's already overstretched resources.