The humanitarian crisis in Sudan worsened on Tuesday, as United Nations officials said they were “deeply alarmed” by a large-scale assault on El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur, and the nearby Abu Shouk displacement camp.
The attack, carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias, killed at least 40 civilians and injured 19 in Abu Shouk alone, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.
A statement from the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Sheldon Yett, condemned the violence, warned of catastrophic consequences for civilians trapped under siege, facing severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical care.
He urged all parties to agree to an immediate humanitarian pause, establish safe corridors, and grant unhindered access for aid deliveries.
Earlier this year, the UN Security Council received alarming briefings describing North Darfur as a “hellscape” where civilians, including women and children, endure unspeakable violence, sexual assault, and targeted attacks on humanitarian workers.
Council members condemned the escalation and demanded compliance with international humanitarian law.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly warned about the health impact of the siege.
In May, Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, reported that renewed violence in El Fasher and Zamzam camp had displaced more than 400,000 people, while Sudan faces the world’s worst hunger crisis with 24.6 million people in severe food insecurity, including 770,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition.
The toll on children and aid workers has been staggering. In April, UNICEF confirmed that at least 23 children and nine aid workers were killed in Al Fasher, Abu Shouk, and Zamzam camps over just three days.
More than 140 children had been killed or maimed in Al Fasher alone in the preceding three months. UNICEF called for urgent protection of civilians and immediate humanitarian access.
International condemnation has also come from the G7 Foreign Ministers, who have denounced RSF attacks on displacement camps and stressed the need to protect civilians. The group underscored that all parties must facilitate humanitarian aid and respect international law.
As the siege tightens, UN agencies and humanitarian partners warn that without immediate and sustained access, conditions in El Fasher could deteriorate beyond recovery, leaving civilians, especially children, to bear the brunt of starvation, disease, and indiscriminate violence.
(Jurist)
