At least 200,000 more people displaced by fighting in Sudan as floods deepen the crisis

In an update on 19 August 2026, IOM reported that since the war erupted in April 2023, an estimated 8.6 million Sudanese have fled their homes, according to the International Organization for Migration. The latest alert adds at least 200,000 newly displaced people since late 2025, with the Kordofan region alone accounting for over 200,000 of those moves. In Sheikan locality displacement rose 25 percent over the past eight months, while clashes in Geissan, Blue Nile forced 7,800 residents to seek safety, some crossing into Ethiopia. West Darfur recorded nearly 18,000 displaced in the first half of August, and heavy rain in North Darfur destroyed or damaged about 1,350 shelters, displacing more than 1,000 families.

IOM reported moving 1,750 metric tons of humanitarian supplies over the preceding 72 hours, including 17,750 hygiene kits and 850 tents. Those deliveries have directly benefited 110,750 people, and the agency expected the assistance to reach over 400,000 individuals in the days following its update. However, the operation faces growing logistical strain as global supply‑chain delays through the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz limit the flow of essential goods. The compounded effect of conflict‑related access restrictions and flood‑damaged infrastructure is stretching the already fragile response capacity. This bottleneck is forcing humanitarian actors to prioritize the most urgent needs.

In parallel with displacement, more than 4.5 million Sudanese have returned to the country over roughly the 18 months preceding the update, many heading back to urban centres such as Khartoum. Returnees are confronting neighborhoods where water, electricity, health facilities and schools have been destroyed or remain non‑functional. IOM’s mandate includes supporting those who choose to go home and assisting people who remain stranded in conflict‑affected zones, but the scale of needs exceeds current resources. Without rapid restoration of basic services, the risk of renewed out‑migration and prolonged humanitarian suffering remains high for affected families.