A United Nations convoy reached the cities of Dilling and Kadugli in Sudan’s South Kordofan state on February 18, 2026, delivering vital aid to communities that have been largely isolated for over two years.
The delivery, comprising 15 trucks from the World Food Programme (WFP), seven from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and four from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), provides food and essential supplies to more than 130,000 residents facing a protracted humanitarian crisis. The aid will support ongoing treatment for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and restore access to clean water, healthcare, and other essential services.
“The arrival of this convoy is a critical lifeline for children who have been deprived of assistance for too long,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative in Sudan. “Reaching Dilling and Kadugli is a crucial step in ensuring that children in South Kordofan are not forgotten.”
The breakthrough follows the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announcement earlier in February that they had broken a nearly two-year siege of Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan. The reopening of the Dilling–Kadugli road is intended to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations experiencing famine-like conditions, which were declared at the end of 2025.
The convoy transported medical supplies, food, nutritional support, sanitation items, and educational materials. The WFP portion of the delivery included over 700 tonnes of food to assist nearly 70,000 people, including 21,000 mothers and children, with specialized nutritious foods designed to prevent malnutrition.
The delivery of aid comes amid intensifying conflict in Sudan. On February 24, 2026, the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on four senior commanders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), including Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, Gedo Hamdan Ahmed, Al-Fateh Abdallah Idris, and Tijani Ibrahim Musa Mohamed, citing allegations of war crimes and the targeting of civilians. The sanctions include global travel bans and asset freezes.
Despite the recent progress in reaching Kadugli, fighting continues in surrounding rural areas, with the RSF maintaining influence in parts of North Kordofan, including the regional capital, El Obeid. Thousands continue to flee the violence, seeking refuge in Chad and South Sudan, according to aid agencies.
On December 13, 2025, at least six civilians were killed in a strike on a UN building in Kadugli, highlighting the ongoing risks to humanitarian workers and civilians in the region.
