Paris: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) expressed concern over the plight of thousands of civilians who are cut off from aid in Sudan's North Darfur State. OCHA said that with active conflict continuing to escalate in the north-western part of the state, at least 2,000 families are trapped in the valleys of Wadi Qardi and Um Saad in the localities of Karnoi and Um Baru.

According to Qatar News Agency, OCHA added that fighting in the area is severely restricting humanitarian access. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs called on all parties to immediately protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and ensure rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to people in need. In White Nile State, local authorities and humanitarian partners report that nearly 2,000 people have arrived in the city of Kosti over the past three weeks, placing more pressure on already overstretched services. Since late October, some 19,500 people have fled Kordofan to White Nile State.

Meanwhile, conflict continues to displace people in the Kordofan region. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that nearly 3,000 people were displaced between 15 and 19 January from the cities of Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan State, with some moving towards locations in White Nile State. Both cities remain under siege amid ongoing fighting, as extreme food insecurity deepens, with famine conditions confirmed in Kadugli and similarly extreme levels of food insecurity in Dilling.

The armed conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has continued since April 2023, claiming thousands of lives and causing the displacement of more than 10 million others, either through internal displacement or seeking refuge abroad, according to UN reports.