The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is deepening due to sustained fighting, ongoing displacement, and rising health emergencies, a United Nations spokesperson warned on Tuesday, citing escalating needs across the country.
Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, told reporters that artillery shelling continues to hit residential areas of El Fasher in North Darfur state and the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced people. Local sources report daily civilian casualties, with bombardments intensifying at night in recent days.
In South Kordofan state, some 2,800 people, primarily women and children, fled renewed fighting in the town of Dibebad last week, according to the International Organization for Migration.
These displaced individuals are now scattered across Al Quoz locality in South Kordofan and other areas in neighbouring West Kordofan, with limited access to basic protection and services. The situation in the state capital, Kadugli, has “very seriously deteriorated” in recent weeks, marked by intense shelling and largely cut-off humanitarian access.
Further north, authorities in Northern State reported that about 6,000 people fleeing insecurity in North Darfur, Khartoum, and West Kordofan states arrived in Dabbah locality between May 12 and 22.
Dujarric also highlighted a worsening cholera outbreak in Khartoum state, reporting an 80% increase in suspected cases over the past two weeks, bringing the total to more than 8,500. While the World Health Organization has delivered some medical supplies to hospitals in Khartoum, “much more is needed to contain the outbreak,” he said.
An inter-agency assessment also found high rates of acute respiratory infections, malaria, and skin conditions among returnees, exacerbated by a lack of mosquito nets, proper shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, significantly increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
With the rainy season approaching from June to September, the U.N. and its partners are rushing to preposition aid. Storage facilities with a combined capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes have been established in Geneina, Nyala, and Tawila in Darfur to support operations in the Kordofan and Darfur regions. West and Central Darfur states will receive aid via cross-border operations from Chad.
Access to education remains severely constrained in North Darfur, Dujarric added. Since the conflict began in April 2023, approximately 250,000 children have lost access to learning. As of last month, humanitarian partners in the state had only reached 14% of targeted children for education support due to insecurity, access challenges, and critical funding shortfalls. Across Sudan, millions of children remain cut off from formal education.
The U.N. reiterated its call for “increased, flexible and timely funding” to scale up the humanitarian response, along with “unimpeded access via all necessary routes” to ensure aid workers can reach those in need wherever they are.