Nearly 39,000 Children Displaced to El Obeid, City Near Humanitarian Breaking Point

Over the first six months of 2026, almost 39,000 children fled violence in North Kordofan and arrived in El Obeid, adding to a total of more than 605,000 displaced people in the town and Sheikan locality. The influx has strained already limited health, water, education and protection services. Save the Children reports a sharp rise in child malnutrition: in April 2026, 426 children were treated for malnutrition in Sheikan, up 118 % from March and 75 % from April 2025. Food shortages and reduced assistance in the camps have forced many children to skip meals. Water access has deteriorated, with daily consumption falling to about 7 litres per person—less than half the WHO minimum of 15 litres for crisis situations—after drone strikes damaged water infrastructure in June and July. Families report spending half their day searching for water, while health facilities report increasing numbers of children needing treatment. Save the Children urges the international community to protect civilians, secure sustained humanitarian access and increase aid before the crisis deepens further.