UN emergency relief coordinator to brief from Darfur as agency warns of worsening Sudan humanitarian crisis

The United Nations said Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher will brief reporters following a visit to Darfur, where he is expected to meet displaced families and aid workers and assess what the agency described as "catastrophic levels of human suffering." The UN spokesperson said Fletcher also met in Port Sudan with General Abdel Fattah al Burhan and senior Sudanese and regional officials to press for improved humanitarian access.

The spokesperson said the UN has allocated $20,000,000 from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)‑managed Central Emergency Response Fund to scale up lifesaving assistance in Teheila, Darfur and Kordofan. "He is resuming his visit to see firsthand the immense suffering and to help identify solutions to this deepening humanitarian crisis," the spokesperson said.

Reporters pressed whether external support from other states — including reports of increased military assistance — is affecting the conflict. The spokesperson declined to comment on specific reports, referring to prior remarks by the Secretary‑General and saying, "what we need is humanitarian aid," and urging countries to stop fueling the fighting.

The briefing also cited wider operational constraints: insecurity, access limitations and severe funding shortages that hamper delivery of assistance across Sudan. Preparations are under way for Fletcher to brief the press room in person or virtually after his Darfur visit; the UN said it expects to provide further information during that briefing.

What happens next: Fletcher is expected to provide a fuller on‑the‑ground briefing after his Darfur visit; the UN said it will continue diplomatic engagement with regional partners to improve humanitarian access.