The United Nations has confirmed that at least 80 people have been killed in renewed violence in southern Sudan, with ongoing clashes between the army and rebel factions pushing the region to the brink of disaster.
The violence erupted last week in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, where tensions have been high between the Sudanese army and a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu.
According to the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, at least 80 lives were claimed in the South Kordofan state capital, Kadugli, alone. The UN has condemned the reported use of women and children as human shields, as well as the obstruction of humanitarian aid and the detention of civilians, including children, in the region.
“This is a catastrophic situation, and the violence is only worsening,” said Nkweta-Salami. “The people in South Kordofan and Blue Nile are suffering greatly, and we are deeply concerned about the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions.”
The fighting in Sudan has intensified since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023, pitting the army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a brutal struggle for control. The SPLM-N faction, unaffiliated with either side, has been involved in these clashes, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.
Both the army and the SPLM-N have accused each other of launching attacks targeting civilians in a bid to capture more territory. The UN warned that the escalation of violence will worsen the region’s already fragile humanitarian situation, with millions of people unable to access life-saving aid.
The humanitarian conditions in South Kordofan have been particularly alarming. With food insecurity already a critical issue, many families in the region are surviving on dangerously limited supplies, while malnutrition rates continue to rise.
The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has indicated that around half a million people in South Kordofan and Blue Nile are on the brink of famine. Famine has already been declared in parts of the Nuba Mountains, where SPLM-N forces maintain a strong presence.
The ongoing violence has devastated Sudan, where tens of thousands have been killed, and over 12 million people have been displaced since the conflict began. Additionally, nearly 26 million people in Sudan are now facing acute food insecurity, further complicating the efforts to bring the humanitarian crisis under control.
The international community has called for urgent action to address the needs of the affected populations and to bring an end to the violence that continues to tear the country apart.
Sources By Agencies
