EL FASHER – The United Nations (UN) has issued a stark warning about the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, particularly in El Fasher, the last Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)-held city in Darfur, as conflict and siege conditions continue to escalate.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been attempting to seize control of El Fasher for nearly a year, while the SAF and allied armed groups continue to defend the city. The fighting has triggered massive displacement, severe shortages, and an alarming collapse in basic services.
In a press briefing, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said civilians still in El Fasher are facing dire conditions. “Those who remain are experiencing acute shortages of food and clean water,” he said, noting that local markets are frequently disrupted due to ongoing violence.
Dujarric revealed that approximately 40% of children under five in El Fasher suffer from acute malnutrition, with 11% classified as severely malnourished. He added, “Famine has already been officially declared in some parts of the country.”
The displacement crisis is accelerating. Since the outbreak of war in April 2023, an estimated 780,000 people have fled from El Fasher and Zamzam Camp. Nearly half a million of them were displaced in April and May of this year alone. Around 75% of those who left Zamzam have relocated to scattered locations in the Tawila area, where the UN and partner agencies are struggling to deliver aid under extremely difficult conditions.
Public health risks are mounting due to the collapse of essential services. Dujarric warned that deteriorating water and sanitation infrastructure, combined with plummeting vaccination rates, is fueling the spread of deadly diseases. Cholera has been reported across most states in Sudan.
According to the UN Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), South Darfur alone recorded over 300 suspected cholera cases and 24 associated deaths in the past week.
“The conflict and the collapse of infrastructure continue to fuel the spread of disease and hamper response efforts,” Dujarric said.
The situation is further complicated by environmental pressures. Sudan is grappling with a pattern of extreme weather, swinging between droughts and floods, which continues to undermine community resilience and obstruct relief operations.
Despite soaring humanitarian needs, international funding has fallen drastically short. The UN’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan, which calls for $4.2 billion in aid, has received only 21% of the required amount, roughly $896 million. without additional support, UN officials warn that millions of Sudanese could face further suffering.
