81,817 people have fled el‑Fasher and nearby villages in North Darfur — mostly on foot — since the RSF seized the city on 26 October. Survivors and aid groups report mass executions, torture, sexual violence and ransom detentions, while famine and cholera outbreaks worsen. The UN says roughly 9.6 million people are internally displaced and 4.34 million have become refugees, totaling about 14 million people — over a quarter of Sudan’s population.
Tens of Thousands Flee el‑Fasher After RSF Seizure — Sudan’s Displacement Crisis Deepens
81,817 people have fled el‑Fasher and nearby villages in North Darfur — mostly on foot — since the RSF seized the city on 26 October. Survivors and aid groups report mass executions, torture, sexual violence and ransom detentions, while famine and cholera outbreaks worsen. The UN says roughly 9.6 million people are internally displaced and 4.34 million have become refugees, totaling about 14 million people — over a quarter of Sudan’s population.
13:50, 06.11.2025Conflict
Tens of thousands flee el‑Fasher as RSF takes control
In western Sudan, an escalating wave of displacement has swept people from el‑Fasher and surrounding villages in North Darfur. As of Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that 81,817 people have been forced from the area — most travelling on foot — since the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized el‑Fasher on 26 October, ending an 18‑month siege and pushing out the Sudanese army.
Many of the displaced have taken refuge in other parts of el‑Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, and in the nearby town of Tawila. Authorities fear thousands of people who remained in the city may have been killed after the RSF assumed control.
Reports of atrocities, famine and disease
The United Nations and international aid organisations have corroborated survivor accounts alleging mass executions, torture, rape and other sexual violence, and detentions for ransom by RSF fighters. Humanitarian agencies warn that famine is spreading while outbreaks of cholera and other deadly diseases are rising, straining already limited medical and food supplies.
UN assessment: Sudan is enduring the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement emergency.
Scale of the crisis
According to UN and IOM figures, roughly about 9.6 million people are internally displaced across more than 10,900 sites in 185 localities spanning all 18 states of Sudan. Most internally displaced people are sheltering in South Darfur (1.84 million), North Darfur (1.75 million) and Central Darfur (978,000). More than half of those uprooted — about 51% — are children under 18.
Before the current conflict began, the IOM estimated that over 2.32 million people were already displaced within Sudan, mainly in Darfur, because of years of conflict and climate shocks. Since fighting began on 15 April 2023, an additional 7.25 million people have been displaced internally, including roughly 2.7 million from Khartoum State and about 2 million from South Darfur and a similar number from North Darfur.
In addition to the roughly 9.6 million internally displaced people, an estimated 4.34 million people have fled to neighbouring countries as refugees, bringing the total number of displaced linked to the conflict to around 14 million — more than a quarter of Sudan’s population of about 51 million. The largest refugee host countries are Egypt (1.5 million), South Sudan (1.25 million) and Chad (1.2 million). Of those who fled abroad, roughly 70% are Sudanese nationals and about 30% are non‑Sudanese.
Humanitarian needs and outlook
The scale and speed of displacement, alongside reports of serious rights violations and the spread of disease, create an urgent need for scaled humanitarian access and protection for civilians. International agencies continue to document abuses and call for immediate, unimpeded assistance to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.