UN warns famine emerging in Sudan's Kordofan region as civilians 'face growing dangers'

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - The UN warned Thursday that civilians across Sudan's Kordofan region are facing escalating threats as violence intensifies, with humanitarian agencies reporting famine conditions, ongoing sieges and mounting attacks on civilians and aid workers.

"Our humanitarian colleagues are warning yet again that civilians across the Kordofan region face growing dangers as violence intensifies," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference.

He noted that the operational humanitarian country team in Sudan issued a statement earlier Thursday "condemning in the strongest terms the escalating violence across Kordofan and the ongoing sieges that have cut off multiple cities."

People in Dilling and Kadugli remain trapped, he said, facing "extreme hardship, severe restrictions on movement, and limited access to essential services and protection."

Dujarric emphasized that "famine conditions have been identified in Kadugli," while "sustained attacks have been reported in Babanusa, in West Kordofan State, in recent days."

Saying that the humanitarian community also expressed deep concern over continued attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, he warned that violence is limiting access to food, medicine and essential supplies and restricting farmers' access to their fields and markets, raising "the increasing risk of famine spreading across the Kordofan states."

He further urged all parties to protect civilians, "including medical and humanitarian workers, particularly those fleeing besieged areas and local front-line responders delivering life-saving aid, wherever they are able to."

Dujarric said aid workers "face extraordinary risks" as they attempt to deliver basic assistance to 1.1 million people across Kordofan, stressing that they require "safe and unimpeded access" to reach those in need.

Meanwhile, in North Darfur, Save the Children reported that more than 43,000 people displaced from El-Fasher since late October have arrived in Korma town and Silk camp, placing "immense strain" on already fragile host communities.

The bloody conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced some 12 million, according to the World Health Organization.