Sudan's Rising Violence: A Growing Refugee Crisis

Sudan is facing a serious situation. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a powerful militia, is gaining ground. They recently took over al-Fashir, a major city in Darfur. Now, they are moving eastward into the Kordofan region. This includes seizing Sudan's largest oil field. The violence is pushing people out of their homes. The United Nations (UN) reports that about 40, 000 people have been forced to leave their homes recently. Most are staying within Sudan for now. But if the fighting reaches big cities like El Obeid, more people may flee to neighboring countries. Filippo Grandi, the head of the UN's refugee agency, warns that this could happen. The war in Sudan has already displaced nearly 12 million people. Out of these, 4. 3 million have fled to countries like Chad and South Sudan. This is one of the worst displacement crises in the world. Some people are returning to Khartoum, the capital, which is now under army control. But many others are still in danger. Humanitarian workers are struggling to help those fleeing the violence. Many people have suffered terrible things like rape, robbery, and losing loved ones. Grandi met with survivors who escaped mass killings in al-Fashir. He says the UN's response plan is only a third funded. This is mostly due to cuts from Western donors. Most of the people fleeing are women and children. Many have walked hundreds of kilometers to reach safety. Their husbands and sons were either killed or forced to join the fighting. Some mothers had to disguise their sons as girls to protect them from being taken by fighters. Even escaping is dangerous because militias often stop and harass people. Grandi has worked in Sudan before. He started his career in Khartoum in the 1980s. Back then, Sudan was helping refugees from other African countries. This is his last trip as the head of the UN's refugee agency. His term ends this month, and a new leader has not been chosen yet.