International Organization for Migration: Displacement of 20,000 citizens from Omdurman

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The International Organization for Migration announced today, Saturday, that thousands of citizens have been displaced from the city of Omdurman, the capital of Jazeera state, after the area turned into a new front in the ongoing war since yesterday, Friday, December 15.

The International Organization stated in a statement on Saturday that nearly 14,000 to 15,000 people have been displaced from the Greater Omdurman locality. The affected residents sought refuge in neighborhoods west of Wad Medani, as well as other locations in Jazeera, towards the states of Sinnar and Al Qadarif. About 1,500 displaced people reached Al Fao locality in Al Qadarif state, and about 3,000 others reached the city of Al Qadarif, with approximately 250 going to Al Rahad locality.

The organization confirmed that the clashes are still ongoing for the second day since the outbreak of fighting on December 15 between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces on the outskirts of Wad Medani, located 136 kilometers southeast of the capital Khartoum. The army carried out air raids yesterday and today, December 15 and 16, in the western, northern, and eastern parts of Wad Medani and near the village of Al-Sharafah Birkat north of the city. Gunfire was also heard intermittently in various areas of Wad Medani.

The panic is increasing among civilians in the town, and people were seen leaving by cars and on foot. The organization said, "The situation is still tense and unpredictable."

It confirmed that commercial shops and markets have been closed since December 15 in Wad Medani. The Sudanese armed forces partially closed the Hantoub Bridge as a security measure, and local authorities declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew in Wad Medani from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM starting from December 15, 2023, until further notice.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in April of this year between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces, Wad Medani has served as a hub for humanitarian operations. Humanitarian organizations reduced their presence in Wad Medani due to the security situation. Employees moved to neighboring countries to be in a position to return and address the increasing humanitarian burdens as soon as the situation permits. All humanitarian field missions within Jazeera state were suspended as of December 15 until further notice.