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January 16, 2026 (AD DEBBA) – A government representative stated on Friday that the number of individuals who have been forced to leave Sudan’s Darfur and Kordofan areas for the Northern state has risen to around 210,000.

Authorities in the northern state are reportedly considering setting up a second camp to ease the burden on the current Al-Affad site, as per information shared with Sudan Tribune by reliable sources. The government had previously considered constructing a camp in the Um Jwasir region close to Merowe but decided against it due to security issues. Discussions are currently taking place to find an appropriate location for the new facility.

The arrival of displaced individuals in the Northern state started soon after the conflict began in April 2023. Nevertheless, the flow of civilians increased dramatically after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of El Fasher in North Darfur and Bara in West Kordofan last October. This increase led to the creation of the Al-Affad camp in Ad Debba in November.

Humanitarian assessment

Mohamed Saber Kishkish, the Executive Director of Ad Debba locality, informed the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, about the worsening situation. Kishkish mentioned that the count of displaced families in Ad Debba has climbed to 32,000, with another 10,000 families located in different clusters across the state.

The UN human rights representative arrived in the northern state on Thursday to hold discussions with local authorities. On Friday, Türk visited the Al-Affad camp to evaluate the living conditions of individuals who have escaped the conflict in Darfur and Kordofan.

Alongside a group from the National Human Rights Mechanism, Türk met with numerous displaced individuals to assess the government’s provision of services and the urgent requirements of the community.

Support from the community and pressing requirements

At the meeting, Kishkish highlighted the essential contribution of local communities in accommodating families, most of whom came with minimal belongings. He pointed out that although local initiatives have been considerable, numerous families still require immediate access to organized housing.

The head of the executive emphasized that humanitarian requirements continue to be significant, especially in the areas of medical care and environmental hygiene. He urged greater cooperation between local governments and global agencies to tackle these deficiencies.

Wrapping up the visit, Volker Türk committed to pushing for additional support for those who have been displaced. He mentioned that the UN is collaborating with different partners to find places that enable the effective provision of vital services to the increasing number of internally displaced people.