The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has raised serious concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, where fierce fighting between rival armed forces continues to claim lives and destroy livelihoods.
The war, which has now entered its 842nd day, started as a power struggle between Sudan’s military government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who were once allies. Today, what began as a political disagreement has turned into the world’s largest humanitarian disaster, according to UN agencies.
In North Darfur State, the situation has become especially dangerous. Heavy fighting has been reported in and around El Fasher, the state capital. Between August 1 and 2, intense clashes took place in the city, leading to multiple civilian deaths and injuries. Before that, violent confrontations between armed groups near Abu Shouk camp, home to over 25,000 displaced persons, left families trapped in fear and misery.
People living in these conflict areas are now facing rising food prices, limited medical care, and blocked humanitarian aid, creating what many fear could turn into a widespread famine. The flow of food, medicine, and other essential supplies has been repeatedly cut off due to insecurity on the roads and attacks on aid convoys.
On the health front, the crisis is getting worse. A cholera outbreak is sweeping across parts of Darfur. In Tawila locality, near El Fasher, almost 1,200 cholera cases have been reported since late June, with around 300 of them being children. The disease, which spreads rapidly in poor sanitary conditions, is made worse by the collapse of health services in many parts of Sudan.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also issued a dire warning. The agency says that more than 640,000 children under the age of five are now at serious risk of violence, disease, hunger, and death in Darfur and other conflict zones. Many of these children are unable to access food, water, or medical treatment.
UNICEF officials said that without urgent action, the number of child deaths could increase sharply in the coming weeks. They also noted that some hospitals and clinics have been either damaged or completely shut down due to the fighting, making it even harder for families to get help.
According to humanitarian experts, what is happening in Sudan is not just a conflict, but a complete breakdown of normal life. Entire communities have been displaced, families have been separated, and essential services like schools, markets, hospitals, and water systems have either been destroyed or abandoned.
Despite the danger, aid agencies are still working to deliver assistance where possible. But the United Nations says their work is being blocked by insecurity, bureaucratic delays, and a lack of funding. OCHA says that Sudan’s humanitarian plan for the year is less than 30% funded, leaving a huge gap in resources for food, health, shelter, and protection.
The head of OCHA in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, said: “We are facing one of the most complex and dangerous humanitarian situations in the world. The needs are immense, but the ability to respond is shrinking every day the conflict continues.”
She added that unless all parties agree to cease hostilities, allow aid deliveries, and protect civilians, the country risks falling deeper into a catastrophe that may take years to recover from.
The international community is now being urged to step up support—both in terms of political pressure on the warring parties and financial aid for humanitarian agencies. Several African and Arab countries have called for an end to the violence, but so far, efforts to broker peace have yielded little success.
Meanwhile, the people of Sudan, especially in regions like Darfur, wake up daily to the sounds of gunfire, the fear of hunger, and the threat of disease. As the world watches, humanitarian workers continue to plead for safe corridors, emergency funding, and above all, peace.
