Sudan is spiraling deeper into one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes, with millions trapped in famine-like conditions as the war between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) prevents lifesaving aid from reaching civilians, the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.
Speaking to Al Jazeera on Sunday, Carl Skau, WFP’s Deputy Executive Director, described a near-total collapse of humanitarian access across large swaths of Sudan, including regions that have endured months of siege and mass killings.
“The needs are massive,” Skau said. “We’re talking about 20 million people facing acute food insecurity, and around six million on the brink of starvation. What we are doing, though critical, is far from enough.”
The WFP is currently assisting five million people, including two million trapped in hard-to-reach areas, but the organisation says many more are cut off by violence, blockades, and bombardment.
Violence Blocks Aid Routes as Cities Fall Under Siege
Skau highlighted that in several regions — including el-Fasher in North Darfur and Babnusa in West Kordofan — it has become virtually impossible to deliver aid due to active fighting, air strikes, and encirclement by armed groups.
El-Fasher, a major humanitarian hub, was under an 18-month siege before falling to the RSF in October. The takeover triggered large-scale atrocities, with the UN describing satellite imagery showing bodies strewn across streets and fields.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the city a “crime scene” following the massacre.
The Sudanese army denies RSF claims of capturing additional areas such as Babnusa, but independent reports indicate intense fighting and widespread displacement.
Kordofan Region Faces Growing Risk of Mass Atrocities
Skau warned that Kordofan is now the most urgent hotspot, echoing earlier concerns from UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who cautioned that the region could witness atrocities similar to those documented in Darfur.
“World attention needs to be on Sudan now,” Skau said. “Diplomatic efforts must intensify to prevent another disaster like el-Fasher.”
Famine has already been confirmed in parts of both Darfur and Kordofan.
Sudanese Government Criticizes UN Aid Efforts, Blames UAE for Backing RSF
Speaking at the Doha Forum, Sudan’s Justice Minister Abdullah Dirife accused UN agencies of failing to provide adequate humanitarian assistance, despite the government granting over 12,000 visas to aid workers and opening several border crossings.
Dirife also claimed that real pressure should be directed at ending the alleged UAE support for the RSF, saying that such assistance fuels the conflict and blocks aid from reaching civilians. The UAE has repeatedly denied these allegations.
He called UN aid efforts “shameful and embarrassing,” saying the Sudanese government had done everything possible to facilitate relief access.
Aid Routes Targeted as RSF and SAF Trade Blame
The RSF accused the Sudanese military on Friday of bombing the Adre border crossing with Chad, a vital humanitarian lifeline. Sudan’s military denies these claims.
Meanwhile, UN representative Rosemary DiCarlo said at the Doha Forum that while the UN has worked relentlessly to protect civilians, most efforts have failed.
“It has been extremely difficult to convince the warring parties to leave civilians alone,” she said.
Mass Killings Reported in South Kordofan: 116 Dead, Including 46 Children
Local officials in Kalogi locality, South Kordofan reported one of the deadliest attacks of the war on Thursday, when RSF fighters allegedly struck a preschool and nearby buildings.
At least 116 people were killed, including 46 children who were attending the preschool.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry described the incident as a “full-fledged massacre”, claiming RSF forces used drones to fire missiles at the school, targeted rescuers during evacuation efforts, and then pursued the wounded into a hospital.
The death toll rose because many injuries were too severe to treat, and some families feared taking loved ones to hospitals that were themselves under attack.
Sexual Violence Against Displaced Women at Al-Afad Camp
The Sudan Doctors Network documented 19 cases of rape committed by RSF members against displaced women in the al-Afad camp in al-Dabbah, including two survivors who are now pregnant and receiving medical care.
The group condemned the attacks as grave violations of international law and warned that international silence only encourages further abuses.
Drones Intercepted, Power Stations Hit as Conflict Spreads
In Sudan’s southern Blue Nile state, SAF forces reportedly intercepted RSF drones near al-Damazin. Government officials say shelling has disabled a power station, leaving the area without electricity.
The nationwide conflict has now displaced nine million people, according to the UN — the largest internal displacement crisis in the world — and left over 30 million in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
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