Sudan Fighting Intensifies, Cutting Off Aid and Sparking UN Alarm
By [Your Name], International Editor
Sudan’s escalating conflict is tightening its grip on civilians, with intensified fighting in South Kordofan and a surge in drone strikes in North Kordofan, prompting a grave warning from the United Nations. The clashes pit the Sudanese army (SAF) against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and are disrupting vital supply routes and hindering humanitarian efforts.
Recent fighting has centered around the town of Kadugli in South Kordofan, with both sides claiming control of the key area of El Kuweik. The RSF announced it had seized El Kuweik, effectively cutting the road between Delling and Kadugli, further isolating the state capital. The SAF subsequently reported recapturing the area, a claim corroborated by reports of fighting between Habila and Delling. The RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) are reportedly maintaining a presence along the Habila-Delling road, reimposing a siege on Delling after a failed assault on the town Sunday.
The conflict is extending beyond ground battles. In North Kordofan, the RSF has escalated its use of drones against El Obeid for the fourth consecutive day. A strike on the city’s main power substation Monday caused a complete blackout. Previous drone attacks Sunday targeted a hospital and military sites, injuring a woman and causing significant damage to the hospital’s surgery, dental, and inpatient wards. The Sudanese Doctors Network reported 12 injuries, including five medical staff.
The UN has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Kordofan and Blue Nile states. UN Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, highlighted reports of increased drone attacks in El Obeid and ongoing clashes around Delling, noting the disruption to trade and humanitarian operations.
In Blue Nile state, the town of Kurmuk has been subjected to intense drone strikes over the past two weeks, resulting in the destruction of a school and damage to a power station. Approximately 1,000 families have fled to Ed Damazin as a result.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports dire conditions across the region. Ed Da’ein Hospital in East Darfur, which serves up to 200 outpatients and performs 15 caesarean deliveries daily, is facing critical funding shortages. The UN is urging all parties to protect civilians, ensure safe humanitarian access, and adhere to international law, warning that without sustained funding, essential services will collapse.
The situation underscores the growing humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which began in April 2023, displacing millions and creating a vast need for aid. The Sudanese army stated it broke the siege of Kadugli, but reports indicate overwhelming suffering remains within the city.
