The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, issued an urgent warning on Sunday about escalating epidemics, famine, and acute malnutrition among displaced populations due to severed aid access and disrupted supply chains.
Key Points from the Statement:
Deteriorating Security Situation
Forced displacement and instability have intensified due to ongoing clashes and fears of an imminent attack on El Fasher
Relief operations in North Darfur are becoming increasingly difficult as access to affected areas worsens
Humanitarian Access Blocked
Despite repeated calls for secure corridors, access restrictions continue to hinder effective response
Hundreds of thousands of displaced persons face extreme vulnerability without sustained support
Urgent Call for Action
Nkweta-Salami emphasized the critical need for uninterrupted aid flow through existing infrastructure
Stressed that targeting civilians and humanitarian workers is unacceptable
Warned against linking aid provision to forced displacement
Background on El Fasher Crisis:
On April 14, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of the Zamzam camp southwest of El Fasher
The city has endured a year-long military siege, recently intensified by continuous shelling and a suffocating blockade preventing aid entry
Over 400,000 people have fled Zamzam camp and surrounding areas, dispersing across North Darfur and Jebel Marra in Central Darfur