UN warns: Situation in Khartoum and Omdurman is very concerning
International and UN warnings of a future humanitarian disaster in Sudan are mounting, with the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) confirming Monday that the situation in Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri remains of great concern as clashes between the army and RSF continue.
The situation in West Darfur, Garcila in Central Darfur and Kutum in North Darfur continues to deteriorate, the mission said in a statement, noting that this has affected civilians, including women and children, many of whom are trapped between the warring parties.
Human rights officials are currently documenting “dozens of incidents, including killings, arrests, possible disappearances, attacks on hospitals, sexual violence, and other grave violations against children committed by parties to the conflict,” the statement said.
The statement said human rights officials are reaching out to both sides in the conflict to call for action against the perpetrators and for the protection of civilians and their property.
Since the outbreak of heavy fighting between the two military forces last April, chaos has prevailed in the country, and looting and intimidation has spread to businesses, banks and even homes.
Violations have also reached hospitals, where armed men have occupied several medical facilities, particularly in the capital Khartoum and Sudan’s western Darfur region.
International and UN warnings of a future humanitarian disaster have been heightened, with aid access hampered by the security situation and looting of some aid agencies’ offices.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned last week that the dire humanitarian situation for children in Sudan has reached catastrophic highs, saying that more than 13.6 million children in Sudan are in urgent need of life-saving humanitarian support – the highest ever recorded number in the country – and the fighting is threatening the lives and future of families and children.
UNICEF said there were 9 million children in need of humanitarian assistance before the conflict.
“The situation, which was already tragic for children before the conflict, is now at catastrophic levels, with access to food, potable water, electricity and communications uneven, unavailable or unaffordable,” UNICEF said in a statement.
More than a million people have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety elsewhere, either inside Sudan or across borders into neighboring countries, and half the displaced are believed to be children, according to the UN.
The overall appeal increased by US$253 million to meet urgent additional needs, including expanding treatment for more than 620,000 severely malnourished children, half of whom risk death, if not helped in time.
