Sudanese flee to Tawila camp

Thousands of displaced Sudanese have arrived at a U.N. refugee site near Tawila after fleeing the Darfur city of al-Fashir, registering with UNHCR before erecting makeshift shelters. Many say they escaped al-Fashir after it fell to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, reporting shelling, executions, looting and forced displacement. Aid workers at the camp report large numbers of new arrivals in critical condition: children show severe malnutrition, and whole families display signs of dehydration, exhaustion and trauma. An assessment in Tawila before the latest influx found only about 10% of camp residents had reliable access to water and even fewer had functioning latrines, leaving services already overwhelmed. Humanitarian agencies say shortages of shelter, clean water, food, sanitation and medical care are worsening as the camp population swells.

UNHCR warns the situation is escalating into a protection catastrophe: many who remain in al-Fashir or are still fleeing fear being trapped with no safe access to humanitarian aid or exit routes. The wider conflict between Sudan’s army and the RSF, which began in April 2023, has produced what the U.N. calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis amid shrinking global aid budgets. By mid-October, some 12.5 million Sudanese were displaced both inside and outside the country, and roughly 140,000 more were driven from their homes following recent RSF attacks on al-Fashir and towns in the Kordofan region.

In Tawila, already hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people, the influx exacerbates chronic shortages and strains aid delivery. Medical teams describe children so malnourished that survival is uncertain even with treatment, while many adults suffer acute dehydration and traumatic stress. Camp sanitation is inadequate, heightening disease risk, and shelter gaps expose families to harsh conditions. Aid agencies stress that urgent funding, increased medical supplies, and unobstructed humanitarian access are essential to avert further deterioration.

The situation underscores the wider humanitarian implications of shifting front lines and urban captures: as cities like al-Fashir fall to armed groups, civilians disproportionately suffer violence, starvation and forced movement. Relief organizations are calling for international attention, safe humanitarian corridors and accountability for violations of human rights and international law to protect civilians and enable lifesaving assistance amid an escalating crisis.