Sudan's Kordofan Region Faces Surge in Displacement and Cholera Amid Drone Strikes

The International Organization for Migration said the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan's central Kordofan region rose by more than 87,000 in four months, reaching over 219,000 by the end of June 2026. The agency noted that Kordofan hosts about one million IDPs, roughly 11 % of Sudan’s total displaced population, and that the city of al‑Abyad has become a major refuge for around 500,000 people, including over 83,000 new arrivals. IOM mission head Mohamed Rafaat warned, “Families no longer have safe options to protect themselves, and many have to flee again.”

Concurrently, a cholera outbreak in West Kordofan has caused 700 confirmed cases and 60 deaths as of 16 June 2026, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The spread is being accelerated by a wave of drone strikes that have damaged power substations, fuel depots, water facilities and health centres, limiting humanitarian access and shutting down medical services. UN agencies stress that more than 30 million Sudanese will need assistance in 2026, with 9.1 million internally displaced and 2.8 million refugees abroad, while over five million children are already homeless.