The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the situation has deteriorated sharply amid reports of a significant build-up of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters in the area. The warning follows concerns raised by the UN Security Council over the “imminent risk of mass atrocities”.
Sudan has been gripped by conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) for more than three years, creating a severe humanitarian crisis affecting over 30 million people.
OCHA reported that drone strikes between Thursday and Sunday targeted key infrastructure in El Obeid, including a power substation and a fuel facility. The attacks forced the closure of several health services, including a dialysis centre, while also cutting access to water supplies after stations were shut down.
Further strikes were reported on transport routes, including bridges south of Um Ruwaba and a major highway in Ar Rahad, raising concerns about mobility and access for humanitarian operations.
Conditions are worsening beyond North Kordofan. In neighbouring West Kordofan, a cholera outbreak has intensified, with around 700 cases and 60 deaths reported as of mid-June. Limited access to clean water and healthcare, combined with insecurity and displacement, is driving the spread of the disease.
Elsewhere, attacks have also caused civilian casualties, including a strike on a fuel station in White Nile state that killed at least one person.
The UN has urged all parties to comply with international law, calling for the protection of civilians and the restoration of safe humanitarian access.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
