UN โฃAgency Warns of Imminent Humanitarian Collapse in North Darfur
Geneva -โ The United Nations migration agency issued a โstark warning Tuesday, stating that North Darfur is onโค the brinkโฃ of humanitarian collapse following โคescalating violence and displacement in the region. The International Organization for โMigration โ(IOM) โฃreports a critical shortage of essential โฃsupplies โฃand services, compoundedโ by the recent surge in โขfighting around el-Fasher, the stateโ capital.
The escalating conflict inโข Sudan, now in it’s โeighthโ month, has triggeredโข a devastating humanitarian crisis, disproportionatelyโข impacting โvulnerable populations in Darfur. Hundreds of โthousands have โbeen forced โฃto flee their homes, seeking refuge in already overcrowded camps and facing dire conditions. Theโ situation in North Darfur is particularly acute, wiht the IOMโ fearing a complete breakdown of essential services ifโค immediate actionโค isn’t taken.
Recent clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitaryโค Rapid โคSupport Forces (RSF) in el-Fasher have resulted in hundreds of deaths and widespread displacement. Sudanese civilians who escaped the city have crowded โinto camps like โthe one in Tawila, โrelying on limited food aid. The IOMโข is workingโ to โฃprovide assistance, but access remains a notable challenge due to ongoing insecurity.
Global efforts โคto secure a ceasefire and alleviate theโ suffering are gaining momentum. Egypt’s Foreignโข Minister Badr Abdelatty met โฃwith Sudan’sโข army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah โBurhan โฃinโค Port Sudan on Tuesday, reaffirming Egypt’sโ support for Sudan’s armed forces and condemning the atrocities in el-Fasher. โAbdelatty emphasized the need to adhere to โคtheโ peace plan โขproposed in September by the U.S., Egypt, โคSaudi Arabia, and the Unitedโ Arab Emirates,โ whichโ outlines a three-monthโ humanitarian truce followed โby a nine-month political process.
The RSF stated last โweekโข they agree to theโ quartet’s humanitarian truce, while the army welcomes the proposal but insistsโ on RSFโ withdrawal โfrom civilianโ areas and disarmament โas preconditions.
The conflict began in April 2023, stemming from a power struggleโค between the army and theโ RSF.โฃ The fighting has exacerbated existing vulnerabilities in Sudan, โฃa country already grappling with economic hardship and political instability. โคEdith M. Lederer contributedโข toโฃ this โreportโ from the Unitedโค Nations.