Sudan: Drone attacks are worsening a water and fuel crisis in El Obeid

The region has remained one of the most volatile and active conflict zones of the war since it began in 2023, and the humanitarian needs are growing. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) calls on both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure civilians, including humanitarian workers, are protected from drone attacks and violence.

Liesbeth Aelbrecht, MSF emergency coordinator in Sudan, discusses below the scale of the humanitarian crisis in El Obeid, and how MSF teams are ready to expand the response there.

What is the current situation in El Obeid?

The vast Kordofan region in south-central Sudan has remained one of the most volatile and active conflict zones of the three-year-long war in the country. North Kordofan state is at the center of hostilities and its capital, El Obeid — with about half a million residents — has become a refuge for about 100,000 displaced civilians fleeing violence elsewhere. This is coupled with being one of the least accessible regions for humanitarian organizations.

The front line is less than 25 miles away. In June, the United Nations sounded the alarm on the potential consequences of a large-scale attack by the RSF following reports about the mobilization of troops. Drone attacks by the RSF have intensified in recent weeks in and around the city. According to data from the International NGO Safety Organization (INSO), more drone strikes occurred in North Kordofan than in any other state in Sudan, with at least 141 recorded attacks as of July 8. More than half of these attacks (51 percent) have taken place since June, and the vast majority hit El Obeid.

There is a real sense of fear among people in El Obeid. Drone strikes are not limited to military targets. They very often hit civilian areas, killing and injuring civilians. Since June, strikes have hit schools, a market, fuel stations and supplies, water points, and the main power station of El Obeid, causing major disruption to the city's electricity supply, including blackouts, although the network has been somewhat reestablished.

What are MSF’s main concerns in El Obeid?

Drone attacks are impacting basic services, raising transport and fuel costs, and limiting access to safe drinking water and health care. There are almost no fuel stations that remain functional, and the price of a liter of gasoline has reached nearly $15 (about $55 per gallon), and it can be even higher on the black market. We are particularly worried about access to safe drinking water, as many people are using unsafe water sources. The situation is very difficult, especially for displaced people. Many families are struggling to meet their basic needs and live in crowded places with poor shelter, and very little access to water and sanitation, leading to poor hygiene.

People wait for hours to collect water, and the prices of the barrels are skyrocketing too. El Obeid now depends mainly on seasonal dams and a small number of urban boreholes. In one of the camps for displaced people I recently visited, families are surviving on a little over 1 liter (about 4 cups) of water per person per day, and there are too few latrines and widespread open defecation.

With the rainy season starting, conditions will get worse and the risk of diseases like cholera will increase. Cholera was first reported in neighboring West Kordofan state in late May. In North Kordofan, dozens of suspected cholera cases have since been reported, raising serious concerns that the outbreak may be spreading into the state. Malnutrition is already high, especially among children, making people more vulnerable to illness.

The recent escalation once again places civilians in the middle of the conflict. After more than three years of violence, displacement, and loss, people are simply exhausted. In one of the camps, I met a lady who had fled from El Fasher last year. She walked 21 days to reach El Obeid. She arrived barefoot after witnessing unimaginable suffering along the way and now she is again on the brink of an extremely difficult situation here. Her story is just one of many stories of unbelievable, incredible resilience, but it is also a reminder of the immense human cost of this conflict.

As fighting intensifies in and around El Obeid, we call on the RSF and the SAF to ensure the protection of civilians, as well as of aid workers trying to support the population.

How is MSF responding to the needs?

We are coordinating with the Sudanese authorities to strengthen outbreak response and scale up emergency activities. We have been able to bring in a new emergency team over the last few days that will focus on making water available and enhancing the Ministry of Health’s cholera response, among other activities.

Between April and May, North Kordofan experienced a measles outbreak that was brought under control through case management and a vaccination campaign. MSF supported the isolation center at the Teaching Hospital, the referral of patients from displaced camps, and health promotion.

MSF teams are ready, and supplies are prepared, to expand the response in El Obeid, as well as in other areas across Kordofan as needs evolve. Humanitarian organizations need safe access so they can continue providing lifesaving assistance which is so needed. MSF is also preparing for a possible large arrival of displaced people in White Nile state if the situation worsens.

Are people fleeing to other parts of Sudan?

We have observed that regular bus movements are still running and that roads remain passable. However, many people cannot afford to leave or are possibly afraid to move because the main road out of the city is frequently targeted by drones. We are not currently observing a large-scale movement of people leaving El Obeid toward neighboring White Nile state, situated about 60 miles away. However, should people decide to leave El Obeid, they must be granted safe passage and access to shelter, safety, and medical care whenever they need it.