03-09 May 2026 Sudan News Summary: violence against civilians in Kordofan, thirst in South Darfur, and cash transfers rebuilding lives
Arabic news roundup
By William Greenwood
United Nations: rape and dangers surround civilians in Kordofan
The UN Protection Cluster has revealed reports of women and girls being subjected to rape and sexual assault, amid ongoing dangers faced by civilians in the greater Kordofan region.
It noted that men are at risk of arrest and targeting based on perceived affiliation with parties to the conflict while on the move, in addition to the risks of looting, extortion, drone attacks, and other violations.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented 13 drone-related incidents in North Kordofan that resulted in civilian casualties between January and April 2026.
These attacks, which targeted civilian sites, including at least three markets and a school, killed 94 civilians and injured 100 others.
The RSF is attempting to encircle El Obeid, a strategic city linking central Sudan to Darfur and South Kordofan, despite the army's ongoing efforts to keep the city out of danger.
From: Sudan Tribune
Thirst threatens lives in Ad al-Fursan, South Darfur
A severe drinking water crisis is gripping the towns and villages of Ad al-Fursan, located approximately 86 kilometres southwest of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State, according to residents.
Residents of the village of Fakarin, within the locality, are facing immense difficulties in accessing drinking water, with the price of a barrel of water soaring to 12,000 Sudanese pounds.
Citizens are traveling long distances, sometimes exceeding three hours daily, to obtain water.
The high water prices have exacerbated the situation, leaving many families unable to meet their daily water needs for themselves and their livestock.
Residents of the village of Umm Labasa, in the Kabm locality, have reported a similar drinking water crisis, with the price of a barrel of water reaching 25,000 Sudanese pounds.
In response, residents of these areas have launched a community-led initiative, "Nafeer," to maintain and rehabilitate existing wells and water sources, as well as to develop new sources through community efforts.
The suffering of citizens in South Darfur is renewed annually with the approach of summer, as access to water becomes increasingly difficult, and the crisis has been exacerbated by the cessation of maintenance and rehabilitation work due to the war.
The state water authority had begun introducing solar-powered systems to operate wells as an alternative to fuel, aiming to reduce consumption and ensure the sustainability of their operation.
From: Darfur24
English news roundup
By Samuel Hunt
Cash assistance is rebuilding lives across Sudan, but the human cost of the crisis deepens into the war’s fourth year
Humanitarian cash transfer programmes, which give conflict-affected families flexible funds to meet their most urgent needs, have reached approximately 14,142 individuals across Aj Jazirah and Khartoum through UNICEF and partners
Families have used the transfers to move from acute hunger to running small businesses such as a seed-roasting enterprise and a solar-powered phone-charging station. This support is made possible in part by the OCHA-managed Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which allocated $164 million to partners across Sudan in 2025.
Yet the response takes an enormous personal toll on aid workers: OCHA coordinator Ghada Nsreldeen left her daughter alone in the Netherlands to return to Sudan in October 2024, but says witnessing communities rebuild means her dedication has “only grown stronger” and Sudan’s spirit is “not broken.”