UN Announces Number of People Fleeing El Fasher in 48 Hours

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN agency, reported on Tuesday that 26,030 people have fled El Fasher, North Darfur, following recent violent clashes in the city. This mass displacement came after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of the 6th Infantry Division headquarters in El Fasher last Saturday, following 18 months of fighting that caused widespread destruction in the city.

Displaced people flee to rural areas amid warnings of insecurity

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement that this number represents those displaced by the ongoing clashes in El Fasher between October 26 and 27, 2025, and includes approximately 3,000 people previously reported displaced on October 26.

The IOM stated that most of the displaced fled to rural areas within El Fasher locality itself, while others reached Tawila locality in North Darfur, with further displacement expected towards Mellit locality.

The situation is “highly tense and unstable” on the roads

IOM teams reported high levels of insecurity on the roads leading to these areas, where the situation remains highly tense and unstable, coinciding with continued insecurity and ongoing displacement. This comes as the Head of the Sovereignty Council and Commander of the Army, Abdul Fattah al-Burhan, announced on Monday that he had approved the withdrawal of forces from El Fasher in North Darfur State “to spare civilians and the city from destruction.”