The Emergency Relief Coordinator has recently visited several regions across war-torn Sudan, meeting with national leaders, frontline responders, and those directly affected by the ongoing crisis. He emphasized the urgent need for a stronger UN presence on the ground, stressing that the organization must be positioned closer to the communities it aims to support. His visit aimed to accelerate efforts to improve humanitarian operations amid worsening conditions.
During his trip, he held what he described as a productive meeting with General Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces, focusing on securing unlimited and unhindered humanitarian access. He also met with representatives of the Rapid Support Forces, calling the discussion difficult but necessary. He made clear demands for civilian protection, accountability, and guaranteed safe passage for both aid convoys and civilians. According to him, both the military authorities in Port Sudan and the RSF expressed strong agreement on enabling full access, though he noted that the real test will be in the implementation.
He reported some progress in gaining access to El Fasher in Darfur, insisting that any UN entry must be on the organization’s own terms to ensure neutrality and impartiality. El Fasher, now described as a potential crime scene, fell to the RSF after more than 500 days under siege, leaving around 90,000 people displaced since late October. He stated that there is still no reliable estimate of how many people have been killed.
Large numbers of people remain in Tawila, while many others appear unable to leave El Fasher. The UN aims to determine why civilians are being prevented from leaving and to assess the conditions they are facing once teams are able to enter the area.
