The United Nations has raised serious concerns over the worsening crisis in Sudan, warning that two southern states are “on the brink of catastrophe” following renewed violence. The deadly clashes in South Kordofan and Blue Nile have reportedly left at least 80 people dead in just one city, as fighting between the Sudanese army and a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) intensifies. The UN humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, strongly condemned the situation, particularly the reported use of women and children as human shields, the blocking of humanitarian aid, and the detention of civilians, including children.
Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis Worsens as Clashes Continue
The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has spiraled into a major humanitarian disaster. The conflict pits the Sudanese army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a battle for control of the country.
However, in South Kordofan and Blue Nile, a separate faction of the SPLM-N, led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, has also entered the fight. Recent clashes between the army and SPLM-N have seen both sides accusing each other of targeting civilians in a bid to seize control of territory. The UN has warned that escalating violence is cutting off millions of people from life-saving aid, further deepening the suffering in a nation already facing food insecurity.
Millions at Risk of Famine as UN Sounds Alarm
The humanitarian impact of the conflict is devastating. According to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), around 500,000 people in South Kordofan and Blue Nile are now on the verge of famine. Reports indicate that famine has already been declared in some parts of the Nuba Mountains, a stronghold of the SPLM-N.
Families are struggling to survive on dangerously low food supplies, with malnutrition rates rising sharply. Across Sudan, the ongoing war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced over 12 million, and pushed nearly 26 million into acute food insecurity. With no political resolution in sight, the humanitarian crisis continues to spiral, leaving millions at risk of starvation and further violence.
