U.N. warns Darfur displacement and famine conditions worsen as aid faces funding and logistical hurdles

U.N. humanitarian colleagues reported that renewed insecurity across Darfur is forcing thousands from their homes and worsening an already dire humanitarian situation.

In the previous week, more than 4,000 people were newly displaced in North Darfur state amid escalating violence around El Fasher (Al-Fashir), including Zamzam displacement camp, south of the city. The U.N. said famine conditions have been confirmed in Zamzam; families fleeing need urgent shelter, food, water and medical supplies. One partner in Zamzam told U.N. colleagues that rising costs and fuel shortages forced suspension of water trucking for newly displaced people.

Humanitarian partners said that since April 23, more than 400,000 men, women and children have been displaced within or from El Fasher locality in the course of the latest hostilities. Across Sudan, intensified fighting disrupted a period of calm in neighborhoods of Amdurman in Khartoum state, producing newly displaced civilians in urgent need of protection and assistance.

Separately, a drone attack in Northern Sudan earlier in the week forced suspension of operations at the Mirowe Dam, triggering widespread power outages across several states and reportedly causing civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure, the U.N. spokesperson said.

The U.N. reiterated calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for unhindered humanitarian access across Sudan and urged donors to scale up funding to keep life-saving services running and to help agencies reach people in areas hit by violence and acute hunger.