Since the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia captured El Fasher after more than 500 days of siege in late October, nearly 89,000 civilians have fled from Tawila, Melit, Saraf Omra, and other surrounding localities. Many families have sought refuge in Tina, near the Sudan–Chad border, where host communities and UN partners—already stretched to capacity—are preparing to receive new arrivals. The mass displacement has deepened the humanitarian crisis in a region already struggling with limited resources and ongoing conflict.
Violence has also escalated in the Kordofan region, leading to more civilian casualties and additional displacement. The United Nations has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, urging all parties to protect civilians and aid workers, stop attacks on hospitals and civilian infrastructure, and allow unrestricted humanitarian access. These appeals come amid worsening conditions for those trapped in conflict zones and those displaced by the fighting.
To address the crisis, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, has invited the warring parties to enter technical talks with the UN focused on de-escalation and civilian protection. The envoy has been engaging with key regional and international stakeholders, including the African Union, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, to facilitate a ceasefire and humanitarian access. However, despite these diplomatic efforts, no significant progress has been achieved so far.
The crisis along the Chad–Sudan border is being further compounded by the effects of climate change, which are increasingly linked to conflict dynamics. A new report by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) highlights that by mid-2025, 117 million people worldwide had been displaced by war, violence, and persecution, with an additional 250 million displaced by weather-related disasters over the past decade. In Chad, Sudanese refugees face dire conditions, with many receiving less than 10 litres of water per day—far below emergency standards. Both Chad and South Sudan, which together host nearly 1.3 million Sudanese refugees since the war began in April 2023, remain among the least equipped nations to cope with the growing impacts of the climate emergency and displacement crisis.
