The United Nations has sounded an urgent warning over the deepening humanitarian disaster in Sudan, where escalating violence and a worsening cholera outbreak continue to devastate civilians in Darfur.
Updated on Thursday, October 16, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, is “under siege from all directions,” with residents facing severe shortages of food and water.
Markets have nearly emptied, prices for limited goods have soared, and humanitarian access remains gravely restricted. Earthen barriers and roadblocks have cut off supplies, while community kitchens—once a vital lifeline for many families—are now being forced to close. Insecurity has also displaced families in other regions, including the Blue Nile State, where almost 200 residents recently fled their homes amid renewed fighting.
The cholera situation in Darfur has reached alarming levels, with Sudan’s Health Ministry recording over 3,400 deaths and nearly 122,000 suspected cases since July 2024. Infection rates are rising rapidly across all five Darfur states, and fatality rates are now “well above emergency thresholds,” according to Dujarric. He warned that the UN’s humanitarian appeal of $4.2 billion for Sudan is currently less than 27% funded, leaving millions without essential relief. The UN has therefore appealed to all parties in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and urged the global community to provide immediate support to stem the crisis.