Northern State braces for new displacement wave from El Fasher
November 2, 2025 (EL DEBA) – The government of Sudan’s Northern State said it is preparing for a large wave of displacement from El Fasher, expected to arrive within hours, following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) capture of the North Darfur capital on Sunday.
Sudan Tribune listened to accounts from the first wave of displaced individuals who arrived in El Deba, about 350 kilometres north of the capital Khartoum, under extremely difficult humanitarian conditions.
The Humanitarian Aid Commissioner for Northern State, Wael Mohamed Sherif, confirmed at a press conference in El Deba that all relevant authorities have finalized preparations to receive the displaced from El Fasher in new camps. He noted that significant efforts are underway to provide them with dignified living conditions.
Emergency preparations
For his part, the Executive Director of El Deba locality, Mohamed Saber Kashkash, stated that the locality’s emergency committee is in permanent session. He added that arrangements are being made for health, psychosocial support, food, and security for the displaced.
The acting Minister of Social Affairs for Northern State, Manal Makkawi, affirmed that the state has entered “another phase” with the large-scale displacement from El Fasher. She pointed out that El Deba is the main destination for displaced people from Darfur and Kordofan and noted the formation of specialized committees for shelter, registration, food, and medicine.
Current situation
Makkawi explained that El Deba city currently hosts more than 4,000 displaced people from Darfur and Kordofan. She mentioned that the state has hosted displaced individuals from all over Sudan in 185 shelter centres since the war began.
El Deba currently shelters thousands of displaced people in two camps, while authorities have begun constructing a new camp in the town of Al-Affad, east of the city.
The state’s Humanitarian Aid Commission states that it has plans for other areas that can accommodate the displaced if the numbers exceed El Deba’s capacity.
In a related context, Kashkash indicated that the El Deba locality security committee has issued decisions including controls on trucks, as El Deba is a major transit point for trucks heading to Kordofan and Darfur.