(GEDAREF) – Fighting around the Sudanese border town of Heglig, home to the country’s largest oil field, has forced hundreds of civilians to flee through South Sudan before returning to safer areas inside Sudan, highlighting how conflict near key energy assets is reshaping movement, trade routes and humanitarian pressure across the region.
Families from the Heglig area began fleeing in early December as fighters from the Rapid Support Forces advanced on the town and surrounding oil installations. Many of those displaced were relatives of oil technicians, engineers and security personnel linked to the field, which plays a central role in Sudan’s energy output and export revenues.
One of the displaced, Dowa Hamed, a mother of five who is paralysed from the waist down, said she escaped with her family carrying nothing beyond basic clothing. Her journey involved crossing into South Sudan’s Unity State, then being transported back into Sudan toward the eastern city of Gedaref. Similar routes were used by hundreds of others seeking safety as front lines shifted.
The fall of Heglig followed the Rapid Support Forces consolidation of control across much of West Kordofan and increased pressure on towns in South Kordofan. The wider conflict, which began in April 2023, has steadily expanded into oil producing and agricultural areas, raising concerns about energy supply, transport security and cross border stability that also affect South Sudan.
Displaced families reported that while South Sudan offered temporary refuge, access to food and basic services was limited. Those with financial means were better able to support their children, while poorer families struggled. After several weeks on the move, groups were transported by trucks back across the border into army controlled areas of Sudan to continue eastward away from fighting.
Not all families arrived together. At the Abu al Naga displacement camp outside Gedaref, children were seen living without parents who were separated during transport from South Sudan. Camp officials said the centre now hosts about 240 families, or roughly 1,200 people, placing pressure on limited space, food supplies and health services.
| Indicator | Situation at Abu al Naga camp |
|---|---|
| Number of families | About 240 |
| Estimated population | About 1,200 people |
| Main needs | Food, shelter, medicine |
Local authorities said shelter remains one of the most urgent needs, especially during colder months. Tents are overcrowded, water comes from a single well, and medical care is limited to a small temporary clinic.
For South Sudan, the movement of civilians through Unity State reflects the growing regional impact of the Sudan conflict. Border areas that also serve as trade corridors for fuel, food and other goods are under added strain.