The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sunday warned that Sudan’s Al Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, could face the same fate as Al Fasher in neighbouring North Darfur if attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue.

The warning came in a video message posted by the IOM on X, featuring Mohamed Refaat, the agency’s chief of mission in Sudan.

“We are all concerned that Al Obeid being the next Al Fasher… If we do not act now, we will see another Al Fasher,” Refaat said.

He added that more than 500,000 people in Al Obeid are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Atrocities

Refaat also said the Shelter Cluster in Sudan, led by the IOM, is “one of the most underfunded clusters in Sudan,” limiting its ability to provide assistance to affected families.

For about a month, Al Obeid has come under repeated RSF drone attacks targeting the city’s main power station, fuel facilities and other civilian sites, leaving dozens of people dead and injured.

On Friday, the UN warned of a new human rights catastrophe unfolding in Al Obeid and called on the RSF to halt its attacks on the city.

The warning followed growing concern from the UN, regional organisations and the US over reports of RSF military build-ups around Al Obeid and the risk of atrocities.

Violations

According to local and international organisations, the RSF’s capture of Al Fasher on October 26, 2025, was followed by reports of widespread abuses against civilians and warnings that the development could entrench Sudan’s geographic fragmentation.

On October 29, 2025, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti, acknowledged that “violations” had occurred in Al Fasher and announced the formation of investigation committees.

The UN also warned on May 12 of an escalation in drone attacks across the Kordofan region, saying the strikes killed at least 880 civilians between January and April 2026.