Rhino: Agencies – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Sunday that more than 55,000 people have been displaced from the city of Sinja and its neighboring villages in the southern Sudanese state of Sennar due to clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The organization said in a statement that armed clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continued to spread across Sennar State, and clashes were reported in the city of Sinja.

The statement added: “Field teams reported that about 55,440 people have been displaced from Sinja city and neighboring villages, as well as from various locations in Abu Hajjar and Dali areas in Sennar state, due to increased security concerns.”

About 50,000 people were displaced to areas in Gedaref state, while another 5,000 were displaced to the city of Damazin in Blue Nile state, and about 440 people were displaced to the city of Al-Jabalin in White Nile state.

The statement noted that the situation remains tense and unpredictable, and witnesses told Anadolu Agency on Sunday that thousands of people were displaced from the city of Sinja as a result of the clashes.

The witnesses said that the displaced people moved by cars and on foot towards the city of Dindir, east of Sennar state, and the city of Hawata in Gedaref state, east of Sennar.

Sinja is about 60 km from Sennar, the largest city in Sennar state, which recently witnessed an attack by the Rapid Support Forces.

On Saturday evening, the Rapid Support Forces announced the capture of the headquarters of the 17th Infantry Division of the Sudanese army in the city of Sinja, the capital of Sennar state.

UN and international calls have increased to spare Sudan a humanitarian disaster that could push millions to starvation and death due to food shortages caused by fighting that has spread to 12 of the country’s 18 states.