The UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Spokesperson on Monday said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the situation across the Kordofan region in Sudan is rapidly worsening, with civilians facing mounting risks as hostilities intensify.
Farhan Haq, while briefing the media, said the UN is alarmed by reports that on Sunday, a drone attack struck a hospital in the town of Dilling, in South Kordofan State, killing at least six people and injuring 12 others.
“That is according to initial information from the UN Human Rights Office. Other reports indicate that medical personnel were among the injured,” he said. “OCHA reminds all parties that attacks on hospitals and health workers constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law. Medical facilities and civilians must be protected at all times, and those responsible must be held to account.”
The spokesman added that in the east of Kadugli, the state capital of South Kordofan, artillery shelling was reported on Sunday, posing further risks to civilians.
“The escalating violence is driving new displacement. Our colleagues with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimate that more than 1,700 people were displaced between Thursday and Saturday from several towns in South Kordofan,” Haq stated. “The security situation also remains volatile in North Kordofan State, including in the state capital, El Obeid, where further attacks have been reported.”
“Despite the insecurity, our partners and we continue our efforts to provide life-saving assistance as funding and access allow. With the World Health Organization and national authorities conducting a cholera vaccination campaign in South Kordofan, Abu Jubeihah locality, it is essential that sustained access is facilitated and security is guaranteed,” he added.
He said that in North Darfur State, displacement from El Fasher into Tawila continues to rise, with more than 25,000 arrivals having been registered since late October, after fleeing along insecure routes where they face extreme protection risks.
“Despite severe access and logistical constraints, the World Food Programme (WFP) assisted about half a million people in Tawila last month and has consistently reached some 2 million people every month across the Darfur region – half of whom are in North Darfur, in areas surrounding El Fasher,” Haq said. “Once again, we urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and ensure rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access across Sudan so that assistance can reach people in need wherever they are.”
Haq stated that the Secretary-General strongly condemned the drone attacks that targeted the United Nations peacekeeping logistics base in Kadugli.
“Yesterday (Sunday), the Secretary-General spoke by phone with the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Muhammed Yunus, to express his condolences to the Government and people of Bangladesh and to convey his solidarity following this horrific attack,” he said. “In the statement, the Secretary-General underscored that attacks targeting United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law, and he reminds all parties to the conflict of their obligation to protect UN personnel and civilians. Such attacks against peacekeepers are unjustifiable. There will need to be accountability.”