The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday said humanitarians in Sudan warn that the ongoing violence across the country is putting civilians at grave risk and forcing even more people to flee their homes.
Stéphane Dujarric, who was briefing the media in New York, said that in recent days, fighting has escalated in North and West Darfur states, with drone strikes and clashes reported across several areas.
“On Sunday, a drone attack on Sarf Omra’s main market in North Darfur reportedly killed at least seven civilians. Strikes in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, also caused casualties,” he said.
Dujarric stated the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that more than 3,000 people were newly displaced in North Darfur last week alone, including 1,500 from El Fasher, the besieged state capital, and another 1,500 from Abu Gamra village, following renewed fighting.
He revealed that tensions were also rising sharply in the Kordofan region, with nearly 1,000 people displaced from Lagawa Town in West Kordofan State on Saturday, due to heightened insecurity.
“Meanwhile, in South Kordofan State, the town of Dilling and the state capital Kadugli remain under siege, with supply routes cut off and shortages of basic goods worsening by the day,” Dujarric reported. “In Blue Nile state, clashes between armed groups displaced 600 people from Bout town in At Tadamon locality last week.”
He said civilians across Sudan continue to bear the brunt of this relentless violence.
“Despite the numerous challenges, humanitarians continue to provide vital assistance to displaced people in areas that we and our partners can safely access,” he said. “And once again, we call for the immediate cessation of hostilities, for the protection of civilians, and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need.”