The strategic city of el-Obeid in Sudan is grappling with a worsening humanitarian crisis as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) tighten their siege and escalate drone attacks. With over 5,500 children newly displaced and thousands more at risk, the situation is becoming increasingly dire.
The city, home to more than half a million people has become a focal point in the ongoing civil war between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The siege has led to severe shortages of fuel and water, exacerbating the already challenging living conditions for displaced families.
The Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
Families arriving in displacement sites and local communities face extremely challenging living conditions. Many struggle to access adequate shelter, clean water, healthcare, and education services. Overcrowding is placing additional pressure on already limited resources, with siege-like conditions and a seasonal cholera outbreak further complicating the situation.
Throughout June, the situation in el-Obeid was marked by intense drone attacks. Emad, a civilian living in the city, described the challenges: “About 11 fuel stations were hit, along with fuel tankers. Additionally, tankers sitting idle inside the city were also hit, including water tankers.” These attacks have crippled electricity and water services, forcing residents to walk long distances for undrinkable water.
The Psychological Toll on Children
Save the Children has expressed particular concern about the growing psychological toll on children. Many have witnessed violence, lost loved ones, or been forced to flee multiple times in the past three years. Francesco Lanino, deputy country director for Save the Children in Sudan, emphasized that “for children, displacement is far more than the loss of a home. It often means losing access to school, healthcare, clean water, and the support networks that help them feel safe and protected.”
Children under 18 make up about 55 percent of Sudan’s displaced population. The charity’s warning comes amid fears that el-Obeid could face a similar fate to el-Fasher, where RSF fighters seized control after an 18-month siege, resulting in mass killings and sexual violence against civilians, including children.
International Response and Urgent Calls for Action
The UN Human Rights Council has passed a motion condemning the RSF’s escalating attacks on el-Obeid. International groups, including Amnesty International have documented atrocities committed by the RSF, describing them as crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.
A coalition of 46 Sudanese, regional, and international non-governmental organizations has issued an urgent appeal demanding an unconditional humanitarian truce. The UN Human Rights Council is scheduled to hold an urgent debate on the crisis, with a core group of nations warning that approximately 500,000 civilians are at risk of being targeted in large-scale atrocities.
Efforts to end the conflict or secure a ceasefire have so far been unsuccessful. Regional and international actors have been accused of driving the violence, with a peace process organized by the United States last year abandoned after the Sudanese government alleged bias in favor of the RSF.
The situation in el-Obeid underscores the Urgent need for international intervention to protect civilians and prevent further abuses and crimes. As the siege tightens and drone attacks escalate, the humanitarian crisis in Sudan continues to deepen, with devastating consequences for its people.
