Civilians in the South Kordofan towns of Kadugli and Dilling are facing intensified attacks from armed groups amid a year‑long military siege. Residents say the “Ta’is” forces—an alliance of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement‑North (SPLM‑N)—have stepped up assaults on the two cities since early October, targeting displaced‑person shelters and civilian homes.
The Kadugli Resistance Committee, a volunteer‑led association, reports that drone strikes began hitting the city in early October. Initially aimed at military sites, the strikes later shifted to civilian areas. On 31 October, a drone hit an internally displaced persons camp at the International Organisation for Migration compound in Kadugli, killing five children instantly and a sixth the following day; the victims included five members of the same family.
The military escalation has prompted many residents to try to flee Kadugli, but the journey is fraught with danger. Travelers risk capture by the RSF or SPLM‑N, and the approaching rainy season is making the terrain increasingly impassable. Those seeking to leave have two main options: head toward areas controlled by the SPLM‑N, or travel through the eastern countryside or western Kordofan, where RSF forces are present.
Food insecurity in Kadugli and Dilling has reached a critical level. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report, 40.2 % of Kadugli’s population suffers from acute food insecurity, with 63 000 children malnourished, including 10 000 cases of severe malnutrition. The United Nations has called for maximum diplomatic pressure on all parties to cease hostilities and lift blockades.
Control of Kadugli remains a strategic goal for all warring factions, as the city serves as a gateway to Darfur. The Sudanese Armed Forces, the RSF, and the SPLM‑N all vie for this crucial stronghold in the Kordofan region. The ongoing conflict has created a humanitarian crisis, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence, and the international community continues to urge the parties to end hostilities and pursue a peaceful resolution.
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