United Nations, Jan 22 Escalating conflict in Sudan's North Darfur state trapped civilians and restricted humanitarian access, UN humanitarians have said.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Wednesday (local time) expressed concern about the plight of thousands of civilians who are cut off from aid in North Darfur, as local partners reported that at least 2,000 families are trapped in the valleys of Wadi Qardi and Um Saad in the localities of Karnoi and Um Baru.
Meanwhile, the conflict forces civilians in the Kordofan region to flee. The International Organization for Migration estimated that nearly 3,000 people were displaced between January 15 and January 19 from the cities of Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan state, with some moving toward locations in White Nile state, reports Xinhua news agency.
Famine conditions have been confirmed in Kadugli, with similarly extreme levels of food insecurity in Dilling, said the office.
OCHA said that in White Nile state, local authorities and humanitarian partners reported that nearly 2,000 displaced people had arrived in the city of Kosti over the past three weeks, placing more pressure on already overstretched services. Since late October, around 19,500 people have fled Kordofan to White Nile.
The office called on all parties to immediately protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and ensure rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to people in need.
OCHA said the United Nations and its partners are scaling up assistance, including food rations, tents, mattresses, tarpaulins and water, as well as sanitation and hygiene services, but critical gaps remain due to funding shortages.
The office appealed for additional funding so humanitarian partners can scale up life-saving assistance. In 2026, the United Nations and its partners in Sudan are calling for 2.9 billion US dollars to reach more than 20 million people in need.
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