Wad Madani is located about 140 kilometers southeast of the war-torn capital Khartoum and sits in the heart of Al Jazirah state, known as the breadbasket of Sudan.
Nearly half a million people have fled to the state since war broke out in April between the Sudanese army and a rival military group known as Rapid Support Forces.
Immense 'human tragedy'
The IOM reported that thousands of people have been uprooted again following clashes that broke out on the outskirts of Wad Madani on December 15.
“This is a human tragedy of immense proportions, deepening the country's already terrible humanitarian crisis,” said Amy Pope, the agency's director general.
People affected by the fighting have sought refuge in other neighboring states and many have also crossed the border into South Sudan.
Some of those who fled reportedly fled on foot and took refuge in open areas, makeshift shelters, schools and host communities.
Signs of heinous crimes
Meanwhile, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Nderitu, has expressed serious concern about the escalation of violence in and around Wad Madani, as well as in El Fasher, North Darfur, and in Nyala, South Darfur.
Ms Nderitu expressed alarm that the escalation of fighting includes very serious allegations of ethnically motivated violence, as well as deliberate attacks on medical staff and facilities, which could constitute international crimes.
He reiterated his concern that the current spread of violence could completely engulf Sudan.
“After eight months of continuous fighting and horrendous levels of violence, with all the signs that heinous crimes have been committed, the wheel of violence continues to turn.
“The price continues to be paid by the most vulnerable, those who implore security and justice, and do not receive either,” he said.
A child recovering from malaria at the Gracia Health Center in the town of Beni, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
WHO prequalifies second malaria vaccine
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the use of a second malaria vaccine, calling its development “an important milestone in the prevention of the disease.”
The WHO has added the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, to its list of prequalified vaccines.
Prequalification means countries will have greater access to vaccines that can prevent malaria in children, with help from the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF and Gavi, the vaccine alliance.
The first malaria vaccine to obtain WHO prequalification was the RTS,S vaccine, which obtained this status in July 2022.
Both vaccines were shown to be safe and effective in trials to prevent malaria in children and are expected to have a high impact on public health when used in conjunction with other recommended prevention measures.
Malaria is transmitted through mosquitoes and more than 608,000 people in 85 countries died from it in 2022.
The disease places a particularly high burden on children in Africa, where nearly half a million young people die from the disease each year.
Russia urges end to enforced disappearance of imprisoned opposition figures
A “pattern of enforced disappearances” of imprisoned dissidents in Russia must end, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the country said on Thursday.
Independent expert Mariana Katzarova issued a statement expressing concern about the situation of opposition politician Alexey Gorinov, sentenced to seven years in prison in July 2022 for criticizing Russia's military actions in Ukraine.
Ms. Katzarova said she received information that his whereabouts and state of health were unknown since December 8, when he was last seen in penal colony number 2 in the Vladimir region by his lawyer.
Since then, authorities have not allowed him any contact with his lawyer, his family or the outside world, according to the expert.
“After his last visit to the penal colony, the lawyer became alarmed because Gorinov was in a state of health that threatened his life,” he said.
“I call on the Russian authorities to immediately reveal Gorinov's whereabouts and his state of health and grant him immediate access to adequate medical care, his family and his defense lawyers. “The practice of forced disappearance of imprisoned political figures in Russia must end,” he stated.
Ms Katzarova issued an alert just on Monday expressing concern over the enforced disappearance of imprisoned opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, whose whereabouts and well-being remain unknown after more than 10 days.
Special rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva to monitor specific country situations or thematic issues.
They are not UN staff and are not paid for their work.
