Civilians in South Kordofan State’s towns of Kadulgi and Dilling are facing increased attacks from armed groups, amidst a year-long military siege. Local residents report that the “Ta’is” forces, an alliance of the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, have intensified their assaults on the two cities since early October. The primary targets include shelters for the displaced and civilian homes.

The Kadugli Resistance Committee, a volunteer-led association, stated that drone strikes began targeting the city in early October, initially focusing on military areas but later shifting to civilian areas. On October 31, a drone strike hit a camp for internally displaced persons at the International Organisation for Migration compound in Kadugli, killing five children instantly and a sixth child the following day. The victims included five members of the same family.

The military escalation has led many to attempt to flee Kadugli, but the journey is fraught with challenges, including the risk of capture by the Rapid Support Forces or the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North. The city is entering the rainy season, making the terrain increasingly difficult to navigate. Those seeking to leave have two main routes: either to areas controlled by the SPLM-N or through the eastern countryside or western Kordofan region, where the Rapid Support Forces are present.

The food situation in Kadugli and Dilling has reached a critical stage, with 40.2% of the population in Kadugli suffering from acute food insecurity, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report. The report also indicates that 63,000 children are malnourished, including 10,000 cases of severe malnutrition. The United Nations has called for maximum diplomatic pressure on the parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and end the blockades.

Control over Kadugli remains a strategic aspiration for all warring parties, as the city acts as a gateway to Darfur. The Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North are all vying for control of the city, which is a crucial stronghold in the Kordofan region. The ongoing conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. The international community has urged the parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and work towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis.