1-7 March 2026 Sudan News Summary: a hard Ramadan in Khartoum, worsening crisis in Tawila, drone strikes spark displacement

8 Mar

Arabic news roundup

By William Greenwood

In Khartoum and Bahri, residents are struggling to secure their iftar meal during Ramadan, with most lacking the means to prepare it.
Most charity kitchens (takayas) in Khartoum State have ceased operations, with reports indicating that approximately 40% have shut down, particularly in East Nile, Ombada, and South Khartoum.
This closure is attributed to several factors, including security restrictions, funding shortages, and a depletion of food supplies, threatening the lives of thousands of war-affected families with starvation.
These groups operated over 90 kitchens providing meals to millions of displaced people and those trapped amidst the fighting in various parts of Sudan, but the recent surge in food prices has forced nearly 50 kitchens to close completely, exacerbating the suffering of those seeking even a single meal a day.
Reports highlight the significant hardship faced by residents in the Wadi al-Akhdar area of East Nile in obtaining iftar during the holy month.
People in the area are facing dire conditions during Ramadan, exacerbated by insufficient support and the loss of income for most residents.

Local officials and displaced people in Tawila locality, North Darfur State, have warned of a worsening humanitarian situation in displacement camps due to a lack of aid and basic services, exacerbating the suffering of families during Ramadan.
Hundreds of displaced people are still sleeping in the open without tents, as the winter weather turns cold, further intensifying the suffering of women, children, and the elderly.
The shortage of humanitarian aid and medical supplies has led to the spread of infections and diseases, particularly among children and the elderly, while the dire health conditions are also linked to the inadequate healthcare services in the displacement areas.
Displaced families from the Dali and Tawila al-Umda camps complained of not receiving aid, despite the damage they sustained from fires that broke out in recent weeks, forcing them to flee to the new Dabba Nayra camp.

By Samuel Hunt

The RSF launched drone campaigns in Kordofan and Blue Nile State this week, marked by successive, intensive rounds of strikes that largely targeted homes and public facilities, stopping short of causing mass casualties.
Residents said drones hovered overhead for hours, vanishing and reappearing to strike in what a government official described as a strategy of “psychological attrition.”
In El Obeid, residents endured five consecutive days of bombardment with drones striking markets, medical facilities, residential areas and the University of Kordofan, and on Tuesday an electrical substation was hit knocking out power across the city.
South Kordofan’s Diling also came under indiscriminate drone fire on Tuesday, as clashes resumed between the military and the RSF-SPLM-N (Hilu) forces.

Bill Greenwood