The UN on Monday raised alarm over an “ugly” humanitarian crisis in El-Fasher, North Darfur, where civilians face starvation and ransom threats. Denise Brown, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, said fleeing civilians are often held for ransom along roads controlled by armed militias.
She described adults and children as dehydrated, malnourished, injured, and traumatised, caught in an escalating cycle of violence and deprivation. El-Fasher has been under blockade for more than 500 days, preventing humanitarian aid from reaching the trapped population, Brown emphasized.
She warned that blocking military and food aid amounts to using starvation as a deliberate weapon of war in the conflict. More than 128 aid workers have been killed since the war erupted in April 2023, Brown reported, highlighting risks for humanitarian operations.
Between 120,000 and 400,000 people remain trapped in El-Fasher, while some 600,000 displaced civilians have fled toward Tawila, according to UN estimates. Since July, the UN has prepared 42 trucks loaded with food, medicines, hygiene kits, and shelter supplies, but access to the city remains blocked.
Brown stressed that humanitarian aid alone cannot resolve the crisis, calling for urgent political action to protect civilians and end the suffering. She concluded that while the UN strives to shield civilians, a peaceful solution remains the only path to safety and stability.
