Northern state official says Darfur and Kordofan IDPs reach 210,000
January 16, 2026 (AD DEBBA) – The number of people displaced from Sudan’s Darfur and Kordofan regions to the Northern state has climbed to approximately 210,000, a government official said on Friday.
Northern state authorities are currently planning to establish a second camp to alleviate pressure on the existing Al-Affad site, according to informed sources who spoke to Sudan Tribune. These sources indicated that the government recently abandoned plans to build a camp in the Um Jwasir area near Merowe due to security concerns. Consultations are now underway to identify a suitable alternative location for the new facility.
The influx of displaced persons to the Northern state began shortly after the outbreak of conflict in April 2023. However, the movement of civilians intensified significantly following the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) seizure of El Fasher in North Darfur and Bara in West Kordofan last October. This surge prompted the initial establishment of the Al-Affad camp in Ad Debba in November.
Humanitarian assessment
Mohamed Saber Kishkish, the Executive Director of Ad Debba locality, briefed the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on the escalating crisis. Kishkish noted that the number of displaced families in Ad Debba alone has reached 32,000, with an additional 10,000 families scattered across various other clusters throughout the state.
The UN rights chief arrived in the Northern state on Thursday for meetings with regional officials. On Friday, Türk conducted an inspection of the Al-Affad camp to assess the living conditions of those who fled the violence in Darfur and Kordofan.
Accompanied by a delegation from the National Mechanism for Human Rights, Türk met with large groups of displaced residents to evaluate the government’s service delivery and the immediate needs of the population.
Community support and urgent needs
During the briefing, Kishkish emphasized the vital role played by local communities in hosting families, most of whom arrived with very little. He stressed that while local efforts have been significant, many families remain in urgent need of structured shelter.
The Executive Director highlighted that humanitarian needs remain high, particularly in healthcare and environmental sanitation. He called for increased coordination between state authorities and international organizations to address these gaps.
Closing the visit, Volker Türk pledged to advocate for further assistance for the displaced. He noted that the UN is working with various partners to secure locations that facilitate the efficient delivery of essential services to the growing IDP population.