Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Recent drone strikes in Sudan's North Kordofan capital, El Obeid, have damaged schools, sites for internally displaced people, and fuel infrastructure amid a major buildup of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia and allied troops, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. Multiple Member States have raised concerns over the destruction of basic services and severe shortages of fuel and water, with siege-like conditions reportedly leaving thousands trapped and cut off from essential services in El Obeid. Officials warn the city may face a fate similar to El Fasher in Western Darfur, where the RSF has been accused of grave human rights violations, including those documented in a recent Amnesty International report. Following requests from Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom, the UN Human Rights Council plans to hold an urgent debate to address the international response to Sudan's deteriorating human rights situation.
Sudan's ongoing conflict, which began in 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, has displaced over 14 million people internally and pushed millions more toward famine. Humanitarian access remains severely restricted throughout the country. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed concern about the RSF's rapid buildup near El Obeid, warning of a high risk of summary executions, abductions, arbitrary detentions, and other forms of violence against civilians that need to be prevented.
At the same time, Sudan is facing outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and dengue fever. Since the latest cholera outbreak began on Monday, the country has reported 1,102 cases and 120 deaths, according to Dr. Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan. The conflict has rendered 40 percent of health facilities non-functional and left the remaining 60 percent only partially operational, complicating the response to these health emergencies. In response, the UN and its partners have mobilized to support on the ground, providing cholera treatment kits sufficient for at least 3,000 patients, bolstering treatment facilities, and launching preventive campaigns targeting over 200,000 people.