Latest news with #North Darfur
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Zawya
Sudan: Humanitarian needs deepen amid rising hostilities and heavy rains
Nearly 27 months have passed since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a former ally, the paramilitary Rapid Security Forces (RSF), creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The UN voiced grave alarm over escalating hostilities in El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur state. Serious risk of renewed violence Large numbers of RSF fighters reportedly entered the city on Friday for the first time since the siege began over a year ago. Local sources report that recent fierce fighting, particularly in the southwest and east of El Fasher, has led to civilian casualties. 'The situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable, with a serious risk of renewed violence, as well as further displacement and disruption of humanitarian operations – which are already under severe strain,' OCHA said. Insecurity in North Kordofan state Meanwhile, in North Kordofan State, growing insecurity forced 3,400 people to flee their homes over the weekend, according to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM). Local reports indicate that at least 18 civilians were killed, and homes were burned in several villages. OCHA reminded all parties that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law, and that civilians must be protected at all times. Rainy season constraints Meanwhile, heavy rains have been reported in West and Central Darfur states, which may affect road conditions in some locations and worsen the challenges humanitarians are already facing in accessing people in need. 'With the rainy season continuing through October, the risk of floods, access constraints and disease outbreaks is growing – especially during this critical lean season, a time between harvests when food stocks traditionally run low,' OCHA warned. Families return to West Darfur The agency said that despite the crisis, signs of small-scale returns are visible in West Darfur state, where displaced families have been returning from Chad to three localities – Sirba, Jebel Moon and Kulbus – to cultivate their farms. Furthermore, local authorities report about 40 people returning daily to Kulbus, with 300 arriving over the past week. OCHA urged all parties to enable safe and unimpeded access to all people in need across Sudan, and for donors to step up their support. Some 30 million people nationwide – more than half the population – need vital aid and protection this year. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations (UN).
Zawya
11-07-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Sudan: Surge in Darfur displacement pushes Tawila into full-scale crisis, cholera spreading
A massive increase in people fleeing to Tawila in North Darfur over the last three months is propelling the small town into a full-scale humanitarian crisis. With the rainy season starting, hundreds of thousands of people who just barely escaped horror are bracing themselves for torrential storms, cholera outbreak and spiralling hunger. Since April 2025, Tawila, has absorbed nearly 379,000 people fleeing repeated campaigns of mass destruction and year long siege on Zamzam Camp and Al Fasher, where famine has also been confirmed. Most are women (70 per cent), children, and people with disabilities, arriving into camps, mostly on foot after days of fleeing for their lives. Four new camps were set up to cope with the spiralling numbers and humanitarian organisations are overwhelmed, with prepositioned aid ahead of the rainy season already depleted. 'The situation in Tawila is collapsing,' said NRC's Sudan Country Director Shashwat Saraf. 'Families are surviving on scraps, sleeping in the dirt under roofs made out of straw, with barely any access to clean water and toilets. Cases of cholera are rising, and the rainy season is approaching fast, making living conditions more miserable.' NRC's June 2025 assessment across four new camps in Tawila housing 213,000 people confirms: Lack of access to water: only 21,000 people, or 10 per cent, have reliable water access. Latrine shortages: approximately 2,684 households, or less than 10 per cent, have access to latrines, while 31,238 households are without access. Severe food shortages: most families report that they are eating one meal a day or less. Lack of schools: only 11 temporary learning spaces means that many children are unable to attend classes. Major protection concerns: 39 per cent of women are pregnant or lactating, 22 per cent of households include persons with disabilities, and there is a lack of proper services and support Uncertain future: 60 per cent of the people in the camps say they are intending to stay long-term, yet 27 per cent have no plan, reflecting fear and uncertainty. The families in the camps have been fleeing scenes of extreme violence: April's raid on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps left up to 400 dead, many raped, aid workers killed, and survivors risking their lives to flee into Tawila in desperation. Since April 2023, 782,000 people have been displaced from Al Fasher and Zamzam, including nearly 500,000 in April – May 2025 alone. A separate assessment by aid agencies and local authorities in Al Fasher found 38 per cent of children under 5 at displacement sites suffer from acute malnutrition, 11 percent with severe acute malnutrition. 'The window for saving thousands of lives is closing fast,' Saraf added. 'We need funding and decisive action from the world's leaders to get aid trucks and relief teams to Tawila – without delays and restrictions from the warring parties – before this spirals completely out of control.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sudan: War crimes and crimes against humanity taking place, International Criminal Court believes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) believes war crimes and crimes against humanity are taking place in Sudan, where civil war has raged for more than two years. The tribunal's deputy prosecutor has told the UN Security Council that the humanitarian crisis and depth of suffering in the country's western Darfur region "has reached an intolerable state". Nazhat Shameem Khan said: "People are being deprived of water and food. "Rape and sexual violence are being weaponised. Abductions for ransom or to bolster the ranks of armed groups have become common practice." "And yet we should not be under any illusion," she told the UN's most powerful body. "Things can still get worse." The war in began in April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces broke out in the capital, Khartoum. The conflict soon spread to other regions, including Darfur, and some 40,000 people have been killed and almost 13 million displaced, according to UN agencies. Ms Khan said the ICC has been closely tracking the dire situation in North Darfur in recent weeks. The region's capital, El Fasher, has been besieged by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated groups. The RSF, which controls the capitals of all other states in Darfur, has also attacked famine-hit Zamzam and other camps for displaced Sudanese in North Darfur. Ms Khan said: "On the basis of our independent investigations, the position of our office is clear, we have reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been and are continuing to be committed in Darfur." Read more: The conclusion is based on documentary, testimonial and digital evidence collected by ICC investigations over the last six months and over 7,000 items of evidence collected to date, she added. Ms Khan emphasised that the ICC considers the situation in Darfur "of the utmost importance" and said it will not be deterred until justice is delivered to the perpetrators. Darfur became synonymous with genocide and war crimes two decades ago, particularly by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven out of their homes. Ms Khan said those now "inflicting unimaginable atrocities on [Darfur's] population" should know Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb is currently on trial and the ICC hopes it will be the first of many.
Sky News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Sudan: War crimes and crimes against humanity taking place, International Criminal Court believes
The International Criminal Court (ICC) believes war crimes and crimes against humanity are taking place in Sudan, where civil war has raged for more than two years. The tribunal's deputy prosecutor has told the UN Security Council that the humanitarian crisis and depth of suffering in the country's western Darfur region "has reached an intolerable state". Nazhat Shameem Khan said: "People are being deprived of water and food. "Rape and sexual violence are being weaponised. Abductions for ransom or to bolster the ranks of armed groups have become common practice." "And yet we should not be under any illusion," she told the UN's most powerful body. "Things can still get worse." The war in Sudan began in April 2023, when long-simmering tensions between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces broke out in the capital, Khartoum. The conflict soon spread to other regions, including Darfur, and some 40,000 people have been killed and almost 13 million displaced, according to UN agencies. Ms Khan said the ICC has been closely tracking the dire situation in North Darfur in recent weeks. The region's capital, El Fasher, has been besieged by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated groups. The RSF, which controls the capitals of all other states in Darfur, has also attacked famine-hit Zamzam and other camps for displaced Sudanese in North Darfur. Ms Khan said: "On the basis of our independent investigations, the position of our office is clear, we have reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been and are continuing to be committed in Darfur." The conclusion is based on documentary, testimonial and digital evidence collected by ICC investigations over the last six months and over 7,000 items of evidence collected to date, she added. Ms Khan emphasised that the ICC considers the situation in Darfur "of the utmost importance" and said it will not be deterred until justice is delivered to the perpetrators. 2:51 Darfur became synonymous with genocide and war crimes two decades ago, particularly by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven out of their homes. Ms Khan said those now "inflicting unimaginable atrocities on [Darfur's] population" should know Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb is currently on trial and the ICC hopes it will be the first of many.
