Khartoum - New York: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the organization and its partners continue to intensify response efforts wherever access is possible, amid escalating violence and the already worsening humanitarian crisis in North Darfur State, Sudan. According to the UN daily news bulletin, it added, "
The office reported that on Monday, a team from its office in the town of Tawila in Darfur met with families who had walked for four days to escape violence in El Fasher, the besieged state capital, which is about 50 kilometers from Tawila.
It said that on Sunday and Monday alone, approximately 350 families—mostly women, children, and the elderly—arrived in dire conditions, some of whom were injured along the way. Dozens of young men who fled with the group remain missing, raising serious protection concerns.
The office stated that it and humanitarian partners have provided food, water, and basic medical care to the new arrivals, but the needs far exceed available resources.
It noted that Tawila is now hosting more than 600,000 displaced people from El Fasher and surrounding areas, and many displaced families lack adequate shelter, food, or potable water.
The office is coordinating with authorities, donors, and partners to mobilize additional capacity, resources, and support.
The siege continues. Heavy Shelling
In El Fasher, repeated attacks continue to endanger civilians, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which cited local sources as saying heavy shelling hit parts of the city center on Monday, endangering thousands of civilians in one of El Fasher's most densely populated areas.
The office said local authorities report that more than 109,000 people have been displaced across 127 sites, most of whom lack access to food, clean water, and medical care. Several community kitchens closed last week due to depleted supplies.
OCHA reiterated the need to immediately lift the siege of El Fasher and ensure safe passage for civilians wishing to flee and for humanitarian workers determined to deliver vital aid.
Khartoum Airport Bombing
Elsewhere in North Darfur, a drone strike reportedly hit the main market in the town of Kabkabiya, highlighting the grave risks facing civilians amid the expanding hostilities, according to OCHA.
This comes as reports emerged of a drone strike on Khartoum International Airport early Tuesday morning, just a day before it was due to reopen. For the first time since the conflict began, domestic flights were resumed.
OCHA said this attack raises grave concerns about the safety of the country's vital transportation infrastructure.
It reiterated the UN Secretary-General's call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need.