Amanze Chinonye
Thousands of families escaping months of fierce fighting in the Sudanese city of Al-Fasher are pouring into Tawila in an exodus aid agencies describe as one of the fastest-growing displacement crises in North Darfur.
Verified reports from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), UN agencies and humanitarian organisations confirm that civilians are fleeing escalating violence, acute food shortages and the collapse of healthcare services, with Tawila now overwhelmed by unprecedented humanitarian needs.
The latest figures from UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) show that more than 70,000 people fled Al-Fasher and surrounding areas in just one week, while broader data indicates that at least 36,000 have arrived in Tawila since the city’s fall.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe town, which already hosts hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people, has become the epicentre of the humanitarian response as new arrivals stream in daily many of them women, children and the elderly.
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Their stories echo the harrowing accounts documented by the ICRC. Jamila Ismail, a mother of seven, fled Al-Fasher after an attack on a local market scattered bodies in every direction. “I searched for him among the dead at the market,” she said, recalling the moment she feared her son Ibrahim had been killed. “Some were crying, begging to be treated, but no one would help them… I kept looking for my son, hoping I would find him. But I couldn’t.”
She later found him alive, severely wounded, and with the help of a neighbour, the family escaped to Tawila.
These testimonies mirror confirmed reports by Al Jazeera, MSF and UNICEF, which have chronicled killings, widespread looting, extortion, and the destruction of essential infrastructure in Al-Fasher amid an intensifying siege. Aid workers say civilians are fleeing neighbourhoods littered with bodies, while families that arrive in Tawila often report losing contact with loved ones during chaotic escapes.
The ICRC has already registered around 7,000 missing persons linked to the conflict.
Hussein Ibrahim Rasool, the ICRC’s deputy economic security coordinator in Sudan, said the influx of displaced families has created an emergency at a scale Tawila is not equipped to handle.
“Thousands of families have been forced to flee… They are hungry, thirsty, traumatized and exhausted,” he said. “Some are even injured or sick and have lost contact with their loved ones.”
Humanitarian agencies warn that Tawila’s overstretched facilities are on the brink. MSF reports soaring rates of acute malnutrition among children arriving from Al-Fasher, while the Norwegian Refugee Council describes the town as being in a “full-scale humanitarian crisis.”
In response, the ICRC and the Sudanese Red Crescent Society (SRCS) have expanded relief operations, providing financial assistance to 10,000 displaced families about 60,000 people with support being scaled up to reach another 12,000 households. This includes emergency cash transfers, medical supplies for the MSF-supported hospital, staff incentives and essential materials to keep the remaining health points functioning.
The ICRC and SRCS are also helping families reconnect, facilitating hundreds of phone calls each week as people search for missing relatives.
With the conflict still raging and humanitarian resources stretched thin, aid agencies say the situation in North Darfur is rapidly deteriorating. They warn that without sustained international support, Tawila’s fragile systems may collapse under the weight of continued mass displacement leaving thousands more at risk.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
