IOM Director General Amy Pope arrived in Sudan on Monday to review the situation on the ground and meet with agencies responding to the crisis. In a statement shared on X, Pope warned that the humanitarian burden is reaching catastrophic levels.
“Over 30 million people need help. Nearly 10 million are displaced inside the country,” she said, stressing that the scale of the crisis demands faster and more coordinated global action.
Sudan’s war, now in its third year, pits the national army against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Attempts at mediation by regional and international actors have so far failed to halt the fighting, which has killed thousands and forced millions from their homes.
The conflict intensified late last month after the RSF seized control of El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. Local and international groups reported ethnic-based killings following the takeover, raising alarm about the safety of civilians in the region.
Local relief coordinators in North Darfur said a fire swept through parts of the Dali camp for displaced people, destroying homes and belongings. The Tawila Emergency Room urged humanitarian organizations to intervene quickly to support affected families.
With the fall of El-Fasher, the RSF now holds all five states of the Darfur region. The Sudanese army maintains control over most of the remaining states, including the capital, Khartoum. Although Darfur accounts for roughly one-fifth of Sudan’s landmass, the majority of the country’s 50 million citizens live in areas controlled by the army.
Humanitarian groups warn that without increased funding and secure access to affected regions, conditions could worsen for millions already living in extreme hardship.