The spokesperson for the Refugee Affairs Commission, William Spindler, warned of the worsening forced displacement crisis in Sudan and neighboring countries as hundreds of thousands flee due to fighting that recently broke out in Al-Jazeera state, southeast of Khartoum.

According to the United Nations Media Center, Spindler pointed out that the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has reached Al-Jazeera state for the first time since the conflict erupted in the Sudanese capital in April this year, with the city of Wad Madani hosting about half a million people fleeing the violence in Khartoum.

According to the International Organization for Migration, between 250,000 and 300,000 people have fled from the city of Wad Madani and its surrounding areas since the start of the recent clashes.

The spokesperson for the Refugee Affairs Commission indicated that there have been civilian casualties and injuries as well as further displacement due to the renewed fighting in Al-Fashir city, North Darfur state, on December 16, saying: "The renewed fighting was followed by the looting of homes and shops and the arrest of young men.

The commission indicated that it is working on delivering and distributing urgently needed basic relief materials to the newly displaced persons from Al-Jazeera to the states of Sennar and Gedaref, explaining that the overall humanitarian situation remains poor despite the efforts made by national and international humanitarian organizations and local actors to provide assistance.

The commission stated that since the outbreak of the war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, more than 7 million people have fled their homes within Sudan, with many displaced repeatedly in search of safety, demonstrating the extent of the destruction caused by this conflict on the civilian population.

The spokesperson for the Refugee Affairs Commission expressed deep concern that the extension of the fighting to White Nile state could significantly affect the commission's work and other humanitarian organizations providing vital humanitarian assistance to more than 437,000 refugees from South Sudan and about 433,000 internally displaced Sudanese there.

Meanwhile, a reporter for Cairo News Channel reported clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Militia in Khartoum North.

The general command of the Sudanese Armed Forces announced that it is investigating the withdrawal of the first division from Madani city, the capital of Al-Jazeera state.

The office of the official spokesperson for the Sudanese Armed Forces said in a statement yesterday, Tuesday, "On Monday, December 18, the forces of the first division command withdrew from Madani city," adding: "An investigation is ongoing into the causes and circumstances that led to the withdrawal of forces from their positions, as with other military areas, and the investigation results will be submitted upon completion to the concerned authorities and then the facts will be announced to the public."

In a related context, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the continued escalation of violence in Sudan due to ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces around the city of Wad Madani in Al-Jazeera state.

According to the United Nations Media Center, the Secretary-General's spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said the city of Wad Madani has been a hub for humanitarian operations since the start of the conflict and was not directly affected by the conflict until this recent fighting broke out.

The Secretary-General’s spokesperson pointed out that the ongoing escalation of violence in Sudan is devastating for the country as well as the region, and renewed the call to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease fighting and commit to a permanent ceasefire, urging both parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and enable unhindered humanitarian access.

Dujarric said that field humanitarian missions inside Al-Jazeera state remain suspended and conveyed the warning from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs about the risk faced in distributing aid to two million people, approximately one-third of the state's population, if fighting continues.

He added that relief organizations have reduced their presence in Wad Madani due to the fighting, with their staff relocating to neighboring countries, but they are ready to return as soon as the security situation allows.

He explained that relief workers are concerned about the risk of looting and destruction of warehouses and humanitarian supplies, noting preliminary reports from the International Organization for Migration which indicated that at least a quarter-million people have fled Al-Jazeera state.