The United Nations has warned of a worsening humanitarian situation in North Darfur State, following a mass displacement that has forced between 400,000 to 450,000 people to flee their homes particularly from Zamzam, Abu Shouk, and other displacement camps toward the Tawila area and the regions surrounding Jebel Marra.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nikwita Salami, stated in a press release received by Al-Hamish’s voice that this large-scale forced displacement is complicating the humanitarian community’s ability to respond to the growing needs. She emphasized that “civilians must not be targeted, and displacement should not be a prerequisite for accessing life-saving assistance”.
Nikwita-Salami pointed out that direct attacks on displaced persons and humanitarian workers constitute unacceptable violations. She noted that the increasing and unpredictable movements of displaced populations—driven by ongoing hostilities and fears of an imminent attack on El Fasher are further deepening the fragility of the humanitarian situation.
She added that the isolation of displaced communities from supply chains, along with rising levels of food insecurity, is putting hundreds of thousands at direct risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and famine.
The UN Coordinator stressed that mounting operational challenges are severely hindering the work of humanitarian organizations and disrupting the delivery of aid to El Fasher and surrounding areas, despite repeated appeals. She underscored the urgent need to grant humanitarian organizations immediate, safe, and sustained access to ensure assistance reaches those in need.
Nikwita-Salami called on international donors to provide urgent and flexible funding through mechanisms such as the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, to support emergency response operations, mobilize essential supplies, and alleviate the suffering of hundreds of thousands of civilians affected by the conflict that has been ongoing in Sudan for over a year.
