In the heart of South Kordofan, where the echoes of conflict reign supreme, survival has taken an agonising turn. Families now forage in desolate forests for food, while markets lie in ruins and hunger grips the land. As war factions tighten their grip, hope fades, leaving communities on the brink of catastrophe.
In the remote city of Lagawa, deep in the southwest of South Kordofan, residents have turned to the land for survival. Khadija, accompanied by her 8-year-old child, recounts her daily struggles: “The journey from my home to the forest, where I collect baobab leaves, takes five hours. We have nothing else to eat—no sorghum, no money to buy flour, and most markets have shut down due to the deteriorating security situation and the collapse of purchasing power. I return daily with my child to the forest in search of food.”
For years, South Kordofan has weathered war and adapted to its hardships. But the conflict that erupted on 15 April 2023 has unleashed unprecedented devastation. Multiple factions fight for dominance, worsening the humanitarian catastrophe, strangling food supplies, healthcare, and security. Roads once connecting the region to the outside world have been closed, plunging it further into isolation and crisis.
Renewed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N/ Al-Hilu) at Al-Kurqul camp near Kadugli have further displaced thousands, including local residents and South Sudanese refugees, leaving them struggling to survive
The state’s economy, which once thrived on agriculture, livestock, and trade, has crumbled. The Humanitarian Emergency Room in Kadugli reports that key roads are blocked, including the vital highway linking Al-Obeid (North Kordofan) and Dilling (South Kordofan), cut off by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Renewed clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N/ Al-Hilu) at Al-Kurqul camp near Kadugli have further displaced thousands, including local residents and South Sudanese refugees, leaving them struggling to survive.
South Kordofan: A struggle for control amid conflict
South Kordofan comprises 17 districts, bordered by South Sudan and linked to North Kordofan via the crucial Dilling-Al-Obeid highway. Before the war, these localities were divided between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and SPLM-N/Al-Hilu. But since June 2023, intense fighting among three factions (SAF, RSF, AL-Hilu) has drastically reshaped military control, severely restricting civilian movement and safety.
Al-Hilu has expanded into new territories in South Kordofan, while the RSF controls large parts of neighbouring West and North Kordofan states and dominates the Ed-Dubeibat in the north of South Kordofan. RSF forces also launch sporadic attacks across the region. Habila locality, once a major agricultural hub, has been devastated. Farmland has been abandoned, food production has plummeted, and hunger now grips the local population
At AL-Shaheed Abdu Kuko School in Kadugli, where many displaced families have taken refuge, one resident shared his story: “I fled with my family from Tillo after the battles between the SAF and Al-Hilu intensified in August last year. I left behind everything—my livestock, my crops. Farming was impossible, so we ran. We sought shelter in Kadugli, but the conditions are horrific.”
The school, meant as a refuge for displaced families, lacks even the most basic services. Clean drinking water is scarce, and aid has been limited to sporadic volunteer efforts. “We are missing basic foodstuffs like flour and oil. I lost my job and my income. We’ve become beggars—both adults and children—searching for anything to eat. We’ve resorted to eating tree leaves.”
The rainy season has brought more disease, yet families are without shelter. Hospitals are empty, lacking even the most basic medicines, leaving no hope for those who fall ill. As South Kordofan teeters on the brink, despair has set in.
Economic collapse and vanishing supplies
Though some banks remain operational in Kadugli, they are crippled by a severe shortage of cash. SAF and its allies, the only faction still receiving regular salaries, rely on the “Bankak” app of Bank of Khartoum for transactions, but high transfer fees—up to 15%—exacerbate the economic strain. Markets are emptying, and essential goods are disappearing.
The once-vital supply routes from South Sudan, particularly from Al-Na’am Market, have been severed. The combination of difficult terrain and increasing insecurity has made it impossible for traders to move goods. Before the war, South Kordofan was sustained by trade from North Kordofan, but those lifelines have also been cut. Fear of banditry has paralysed trade, further choking the state’s already struggling economy.
As war factions continue to clash, the people of South Kordofan face an escalating battle for survival. The collapse of markets, agriculture, and basic services has left them without recourse. Hunger is spreading, and without intervention, the humanitarian crisis will only deepen.
| Item | Price (SDG) |
|---|---|
| Wheat | 16,000 |
| Corn | 12,000 |
| Onion | 20,000 |
| Salt | 18,000 |
| Kilogram of Lentils | 9,000 |
| Kilogram of Sugar | 7,000 |
| Gallon of Gasoline | 100,000 |
| Gallon of Diesel | 45,000 |
Table Showing Some Commodity Prices in Kadugli
Humanitarian work stalled amid rising malnutrition
In a chilling account, activist Ibrahim Musa (an anonymous name used for safety reasons) revealed that state authorities have effectively halted the operations of humanitarian organisations in South Kordofan, prohibiting aid from reaching the population. Instead, the authorities are pressing citizens to return to their abandoned homes, despite the dangerous and deteriorating conditions. According to Musa, hospitals, pharmacies, and health centres are facing severe shortages, with most medicines having run out. Public hospitals, which once provided a modicum of care, are now barely functional, and private pharmacies are unable to meet the overwhelming demand.
The crisis is most acutely felt by children, with widespread malnutrition devastating communities. Thousands of children suffer from acute malnutrition, leading to a surge in deaths. Musa lamented the fact that the city’s only children’s malnutrition treatment centre has become almost completely inactive, turning away new patients and offering no services to those in desperate need.
“Some patients arrive at the hospital in critical condition but are sent home without seeing a doctor or undergoing necessary tests due to the lack of money,” Musa explained. He added that the cost of medicine is beyond the reach of most families, leading to delays in treatment that often prove fatal. Although some private pharmacies have attempted to import medicines from South Sudan’s Al-Naa’m market, the quantities are far below what is required, and prices remain prohibitively high. The crisis is further compounded by a severe shortage of medical staff and the complete absence of basic laboratory tests, such as blood work and diabetes screenings.
The healthcare system’s collapse is particularly devastating for patients with chronic conditions, such as tuberculosis (TB), whose treatment requires adequate nutrition—something most people in the region can no longer afford. Musa noted that doctors have stopped prescribing TB medication altogether, as treatment without proper nutrition is ineffective. Meanwhile, the city’s kidney dialysis centre has been closed since August due to a lack of essential solutions. Many patients who could afford to have fled north towards Al-Obeid, but those without the means remain trapped, waiting in vain for help that may never come.
Humanitarian crisis ignored
In May, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid in South Kordofan announced that 1.8 million people in the state were in need of humanitarian assistance, along with 42,000 refugees from South Sudan. Despite the starkness of these figures, the response from authorities has been one of silence. Attempts by *ATAR* correspondents to contact government officials and farmers’ unions for comment were met with refusal or indifference.
The region’s plight is exacerbated by a complex web of conflicts and blockades. Musa recounted his harrowing journey last December to White Nile State, where he encountered nearly 120 checkpoints set up by the RSF leading to the entrance of Al-Obeid. At each checkpoint, civilians were subjected to harassment and abuse. “The RSF has entrenched its control over supply routes, making it nearly impossible to move goods or aid into the region,” Musa said.
South Kordofan has long been a battleground. After the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, the region experienced its longest period of relative calm. But that peace was shattered in 2011, when war resumed between the government of ousted President Omar Al-Bashir and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). Following the revolution in December 2018, the Juba Peace Agreement was signed with many armed movements. However, Al-Hilu faction, which controls large parts of South Kordofan and Blue Nile State, did not join the accord. The only agreement between the government and Al-Hilu was the March 2021 Declaration of Principles, which established a fragile ceasefire, followed by a ceasefire agreement.
Yet, the outbreak of war on 15 April 2023 plunged the region back into chaos. The SPLM-N expanded its territorial control at the expense of the Sudanese army, and in some instances, Al-Hilu factions have aligned with the SAF against the RSF. These shifting alliances have further complicated the conflict, leading to the displacement of thousands and cutting off access to vital farmland.
A desperate future
South Kordofan’s humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, as war and famine threaten to engulf the region. The halt in aid, the collapse of the healthcare system, and the worsening food shortages paint a bleak picture of the future. While the international community remains focused on larger conflicts, the people of South Kordofan are left to fend for themselves, facing a humanitarian catastrophe that shows no sign of abating.
Economic Collapse and humanitarian crisis in Dilling
The economic conditions in Dilling, South Kordofan’s second-largest city, reflect a dire reality similar to that of Kadugli. Cash liquidity has evaporated, forcing some bank branches to relocate to Kosti in White Nile State. The intertwined crises of fuel shortages and agricultural land closures have led to skyrocketing prices for essential goods, particularly food, which have become unaffordable for most residents.
Healthcare System Under Strain
Despite remaining operational, healthcare facilities in Dilling—such as the Dilling Teaching Hospital and various health insurance centres—are struggling to provide adequate services. Patients report severe shortages of medications, particularly for chronic illnesses, while prices for any available treatments have soared. Many malnutrition treatment centres exist, relying on support from national and international organisations, but their operations have been severely hindered due to road closures that prevent the delivery of aid.
A member of the Dilling Emergency Room, who wished to remain anonymous, described the situation as a siege, with the city cut off from both medicines and essential goods. Displaced families from eastern neighborhoods have sought refuge in western areas, leading to the establishment of over fourteen shelters for those fleeing conflict in regions like Habila, Tongan, and Khartoum. These shelters currently host approximately 49,600 displaced individuals, alongside Dilling’s own population of 93,600, all grappling with insufficient resources. Tragically, over forty deaths due to hunger have been recorded, with more than two hundred children suffering from severe malnutrition.
Protests and economic strife
In July of last year, Abu Jibeha witnessed violent protests sparked by deteriorating living conditions, which culminated in the market’s closure. Escalating prices, fuel monopolisation by the army, and severe food shortages prompted citizens to take to the streets, leading to a significant rise in civil unrest. In the midst of this turmoil, the local currency plummeted, with the U.S. dollar reaching over 3,000 SDG on the black market.
In August, the SPLM-N/Al-Hilu declared a famine in areas under its control, urging immediate assistance from national and international humanitarian organisations. The group attributed the famine to last year’s failed agricultural season, lack of seeds and fuel, and the devastating impact of locusts. The UN has reported that the number of Sudanese experiencing famine-level conditions has surged to 755,000, a stark increase from zero earlier.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlighted widespread displacement in South Kordofan due to ongoing clashes between the SAF, Al-Hilu, and the Rapid Support Forces. Of the 2.7 million internally displaced people across Sudan, 1.37 per cent reside in South Kordofan.
Community on the brink
Since the onset of conflict on April 15, the population in Al-Hilu-controlled areas has surged from two million to over three million, as families flee the ravages of war. The failed agricultural season and adverse weather conditions have drastically reduced crop yields, while locust infestations continue to threaten any remaining harvests. Floods during the rainy season have further decimated farmland, and humanitarian aid remains largely inaccessible.
A local resident lamented, “We used to rely on markets that were open and allowed us to access essential goods. Now, they are closed due to insecurity and the presence of militias.” In August alone, 187 children succumbed to severe malnutrition and hunger, while pregnant women face a critical lack of healthcare.
Although some humanitarian organisations have begun to reach SPLM-N areas, the rainy season and blocked roads limit their ability to provide the necessary support. SPLM-N/Al-Hilu leader Jatigo Amoga Delman warned, “More than 400,000 people are suffering from a total lack of food. Over 10,000 children are severely malnourished, and hunger-related deaths continue to rise.”
Calls for action
Delman stressed that the situation has escalated beyond famine into a full-scale disaster. “Food must never be used as a weapon against civilians,” he insisted. Efforts to engage international relief organisations have so far yielded little action, leaving communities in a state of desperation. The current agricultural season faces numerous challenges, compounded by insecurity and militia control over roads, exacerbating the plight of those who remain.
As the crisis unfolds, the people of Dilling and South Kordofan find themselves on the brink, facing an uncertain future in a landscape ravaged by conflict, economic collapse, and humanitarian neglect.
