Briefing the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacekeeping Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said the situation has deteriorated over the past two weeks, with increased drone attacks and a growing presence of Rapid Support Forces in and around the city. “The window to avert a wider escalation in El Obeid is rapidly narrowing,” DiCarlo said.
She cautioned that a full-scale assault could expose hundreds of thousands of civilians to large-scale violence, while triggering further displacement to already overstretched areas. The warning echoes earlier concerns raised by UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk, who said an offensive could result in an “impending human rights disaster.”
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, now in its fourth year, continues to expand across several fronts. The wider Kordofan region remains heavily contested, with intensified clashes reported in areas including Dilling, Kadugli and Babanusa.
Drone strikes targeting bridges and key transport routes in Darfur and Kordofan have disrupted humanitarian access, leaving communities increasingly isolated.
Other regions, including White Nile and Blue Nile states, remain volatile, with ongoing clashes adding to the mounting human cost. DiCarlo warned that the increasing use of drones is making the conflict more unpredictable and more dangerous for civilians. “The growing use of drones is making the conflict more lethal,” she said.
She also raised concern over external involvement, saying the parties could not sustain the current level of fighting without access to advanced weaponry.
The conflict is further complicated by rising tensions between Sudan and neighbouring countries, including Ethiopia and Chad, raising fears of broader regional involvement.
UN Children’s Fund Deputy Executive Director Hannan Sulieman told the Council that around 500 000 civilians are at risk in El Obeid, with children among the most vulnerable.
Sudan remains the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with thousands of children already killed or injured since the war began. “Children are at immediate and growing danger,” she said.
Sulieman warned that nearly 80% of reported child casualties this year have been linked to drone attacks, highlighting the severe risks facing young people. UN officials called on all parties to exercise restraint, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and engage in negotiations to prevent further escalation.
They also stressed the need for renewed diplomatic efforts, including ongoing initiatives to secure a humanitarian truce and advance a political solution led by Sudanese stakeholders. “The children of Sudan cannot survive on expressions of concern,” Sulieman said.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
