The UN and several humanitarian agencies have issued grave warnings regarding the situation in Sudan, particularly after the fall of El-Fasher to paramilitary forces and amid fierce battles in Kordofan.
The war in Sudan broke out on April 15, 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), triggering the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis and driving the country closer toward partition.
Alarm over Kordofan
The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, has raised alarm over the situation in Kordofan, as fighting rages between the warring parties to take control over the strategic region.
On Wednesday, Türk warned that the surge in fighting in Kordofan could trigger “another wave of atrocities” across the region, reminiscent of what happened in El-Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur state.
“It is truly shocking to see history repeating itself in Kordofan so soon after the horrific events in El-Fasher. The international community stood united then, unequivocally condemning the barbarous violations and destruction. We must not allow Kordofan to become another El-Fasher,” the UN official said.
In late October 2025, the RSF seized El-Fasher, unleashing a wave of atrocities against civilians, including mass killings and sexual violence, pushing thousands of Sudanese to flee the city while others remain trapped amid dire humanitarian conditions.
Fighting in Kordofan
After capturing El-Fasher and consolidating control over the entire Darfur region, the RSF has shifted its focus to the Kordofan region, which includes North, South, East and West Kordofan, and serves as a strategic corridor that links Khartoum and central Sudan to Darfur.
Fierce fighting has been raging over the city of Babanusa, the army’s last stronghold in West Kordofan. The RSF claimed last week that it had seized the city after taking control of the army’s 22nd Infantry Division headquarters.
On Thursday, the Sudan Doctors Network said that the RSF forces were detaining approximately 100 families in Babanusa under harsh conditions, according to Sudan Tribune.
“The RSF is detaining more than 100 families from Babanusa and surrounding villages, including children and pregnant women, in extremely dangerous humanitarian conditions,” the group said in a statement.
RSF Crimes
In his statement, Türk detailed the RSF‘s crimes documented by the UN Human Rights Office in cities across the Kordofan region. These include at least 269 civilian deaths from aerial strikes, artillery shelling, and summary executions in Bara city in North Kordofan, in addition to reports of mass killings, sexual violence and forced recruitment.
Moreover, an RSF drone strike on a tent in Al-Obeid in North Kordofan killed 45 people, mostly women. An aerial strike by the SAF in Kauda, South Kordofan, reportedly killed at least 48 people.
The UN Human Rights Chief raised particular alarm over Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan and Al-Obeid in North Kordofan, all besieged by the RSF which blocks humanitarian access. As a result, famine has been confirmed in Kadugli and risk of famine announced in Dilling.
“We cannot remain silent in front of yet another man-made catastrophe. This fighting must end immediately, and life-saving aid allowed to reach those who face starvation,” Türk said.
Khartoum at Risk
Humanitarian organizations have warned of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Sudan, amid severe food shortages and worsening healthcare services in the capital Khartoum.
In this context, two humanitarian organizations, Medical Teams International and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), released a comprehensive assessment report that reveals the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in the Sudanese capital.
The SAF recaptured Khartoum in March 2025 following months of heavy fighting with the RSF paramilitary group. It had also reopened the airport for domestic flights in October.
Unimaginable Hardship
The report found that 97% of households are food insecure; the caloric intake is less than 1,800 kcal per day in 74% of households; and 69% of families reported skipping meals to cope with lack of food.
As for healthcare, the report concluded that only 43% of health facilities are functional; only 14% of women have access to safe deliveries; 70% of facilities lack antibiotics; and health facility staffing has dropped from 11.2 to 7.8 staff members per facility.
It also found that nearly half of accessible water is unsafe to drink; nearly half of people don’t have access to toilets; and waste collection systems have collapsed from 68% to 9%.
“The need for humanitarian assistance in Khartoum is urgent. We call on international actors to immediately step up and fund life-saving aid in Sudan,” Country Director of Norwegian Church Aid in Sudan, Dirk Hanekom, urged.
Meanwhile, the Country Director of Medical Teams International in Sudan, Birhanu Waka, said that the assessment’s data should help in guiding health response across the country.
“Amid unimaginable hardship, Khartoum’s residents and returnees are fighting to survive and rebuild. This new data is a lifeline – guiding us to sharpen our life-saving health response and work toward restoring the health system,” Waka noted.
