Sudan’s government has disputed recent U.N. displacement figures related to ongoing violence in the eastern Al Jazirah state. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on October 28 that clashes involving the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had displaced approximately 46,700 people and left numerous civilians dead or injured.
However, Salwa Adam Binia, Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, questioned the reliability of these numbers, arguing that OCHA’s figures might be exaggerated or inaccurate due to limited on-the-ground verification. “Local teams are conducting daily tallies, and a specialized team will soon visit to provide an accurate count,” she explained.
Binia emphasized that displacement remains significant in the region and assured that the Sudanese government is working diligently to assess humanitarian needs and provide relief. She confirmed that a convoy transporting food and shelter supplies departed from Port Sudan, headed to areas such as Gedaref, Kassala, and River Nile states, where many displaced individuals have sought refuge.
The RSF’s attacks, which began on October 21, reportedly followed the defection of a local commander to the Sudanese army. The violence, concentrated in areas loyal to the commander, has compounded the national humanitarian crisis sparked by the broader RSF-army conflict ongoing since April, which has left millions displaced and led to numerous allegations of human rights abuses by both sides.
