Khartoum: Over 300 Sudanese civilians have fled the city of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, as the security situation continues to deteriorate due to ongoing attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

According to Anadolu Agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 330 civilians have been displaced since Tuesday. The displaced individuals have sought refuge in various locations within the Ar-Rahad and Sheikan districts of North Kordofan, as insecurity in their home region worsens. The UN agency highlighted the highly tense and volatile nature of the current situation.

Despite these developments, Sudanese authorities maintain that there is calm in Kadugli. Bashir Ahmed Omar, the executive director of Kadugli locality, assured the public through the state news agency SUNA that the armed forces and other security organizations are striving to ensure stability and safety in the area. He urged residents to ignore 'rumors and misleading information' that could incite unnecessary panic.

The IOM had previously reported the displacement of 985 individuals from South Kordofan over a span of two days. The city of Kadugli has been under siege by both the RSF and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) since the early stages of the conflict, experiencing recurrent artillery and drone strikes. Although official population figures for Kadugli are unavailable, the city has endured multiple displacement waves.

Last week, Sheldon Yett, the UNICEF representative in Sudan, confirmed the occurrence of famine in Kadugli. UN estimates suggest that over 41,000 people have escaped the escalating violence in North and South Kordofan during November alone.

The broader Kordofan region, comprising North, West, and South Kordofan, has been the scene of intense fighting between the army and the RSF, leading to mass displacements. The RSF currently controls the majority of the Darfur region, while the army holds significant territories across Sudan's 18 states, including the capital, Khartoum.

The ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has resulted in thousands of casualties and displaced millions, underscoring the dire humanitarian crisis in the region.