Over 6,500 people flee renewed clashes in Kadugli of South Kordofan: reports

August 22, 2023 (KADUGLI) – An estimated 6,700 people have fled their homes in the wake of renewed military clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the South Kordofan State capital, Kadugli in recent days.

The Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) in South Kordofan said people fled their homes to another part of Kadugli following the clashes on 14 August.

During the fighting, it noted, stray bullets hit two humanitarian compounds.

“There is a dire shortage of food and nutrition supplies in Kadugli town,” it said.

According the government-run aid agency, the humanitarian situation is dire for vulnerable populations in Kadugli and that due to the insecurity, aid workers traveling from out of the area are not able to reach the town.

It said humanitarian food stocks in Kadugli town have been depleted, and attempts to bring in more supplies have failed due to insecurity on the road.

“The last food distributions for three months were in May, and those supplies will only last families until the end of this month. Other humanitarian stocks in Kadugli, especially health and nutrition supplies are also running low,” it noted.

Fighting between the SPLM-N Al Hilu faction and SAF has been ongoing and escalating in the state since June 17. To date, nine out of 17 localities have reportedly been affected by the clashes, resulting in the displacement of over 69,400 people.

According to the 2023 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), an estimated 160,000 displaced people live in Kadugli locality, of whom about 100,000 needed humanitarian assistance even before the conflict in South Kordofan.

(ST)