The spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said they are seeing an alarming escalation of violence in the Kordofan region of Sudan, which continues to take a heavy toll on civilians and their communities.
Stéphane Dujarric, who was briefing the media in New York on Thursday, reported that intensified fighting there has killed and injured civilians, destroyed homes, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure.
“Humanitarian access is also becoming increasingly restrained. In South Kordofan, confrontations between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have intensified in recent days, further endangering civilians,” he stated. “Local humanitarian organizations have reported disruptions along key routes leading into the city of Dilling.”
“Our humanitarian partners also report that a drone strike this week hit the Dilling General Hospital, killing at least four patients and injuring several civilians. Hospitals and health centers can never be targeted,” Dujarric added.
He said violence has also escalated in the town of Kadugli, resulting in a highly volatile security environment for communities and humanitarian responders.
“In North Kordofan, the city of El Obeid has faced continued drone attacks over the past five days, with strikes reported against a hospital as well as government sites,” he said. “These attacks are occurring amid growing threats to critical infrastructure and supply routes, including the road between the cities of Kosti and El Obeid, raising serious concerns for both humanitarian and commercial supply chains.”
“Once again, we call for the parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and the facilitation of safe and sustained humanitarian access,” Dujarric appealed.