20-26 July Sudan News Summary: Siege, hunger, refugees return, and violence against women
Arabic news roundup
By William Greenwood
El Fasher is choking: 88% of basic commodities are missing, and hunger is ravaging the population
Activists revealed on Saturday a near-total shortage of food supplies in El Fasher, North Darfur, amid the prolonged siege imposed by the Rapid Support Forces on the city.
Important goods, including sugar, onions, rice, salt, and lentils, have disappeared from stores, amid a sharp decline in stocks of millet, sorghum, and life-saving medicines.
The North Darfur Emergency Room Coordination Council said in a statement, "Our field estimates in El Fasher indicate a near-total shortage of basic food supplies, reaching 88%.”
It pointed out that children and women are the most vulnerable, suffering from horrific hunger, and scenes of emaciation and severe malnutrition have become commonplace in camps and host communities.
From: Sudan Tribune
Under siege and hunger... Dilling suffering in silence amid massive displacement
The city of Dilling in South Kordofan State is experiencing catastrophic humanitarian conditions under a stifling siege imposed on all sides by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
This siege has led to the disruption of food and medical supplies as well as the collapse of basic services, and forced residents to flee their homes due to hunger.
Most families in Dilling, owing to exorbitant prices and lack of job opportunities, are now entirely dependent on remittances from relatives, while some have been forced to eat wild grasses to survive.
From: Darfur24
UN: Cholera outbreak exacerbates humanitarian crisis in Sudan
The United Nations has warned of a continued deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Sudan, as a cholera outbreak, flood-related displacement, and a lack of aid threaten people's lives across the country.
The Tawila area in North Darfur has recorded more than 1,300 cholera cases in just one week, amid a severe shortage of medical resources.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that UN partners on the ground are struggling to meet the growing needs in the area, warning of increased challenges with the arrival of the rainy season.
From: Al Jazeera
English news roundup
By Samuel Hunt
Urgent aid is needed as displaced Sudanese start to return home
Although conflict persists across much of the country, pockets of relative safety have emerged, and to date, 1 million displaced people have made their way home.
Humanitarian agencies stress that recovery efforts must begin in areas that are becoming accessible and relatively safer.
Regional Directors from UNHCR and IOM recently visited Khartoum and witnessed widespread devastation and a chronic lack of services for its remaining inhabitants.
“Those heading home are not passive survivors, they are vital to Sudan’s recovery. Yes, the humanitarian situation is dire, but with the right support, returnees can revive local economies, restore community life, and foster hope where it’s needed most,” said IOM Regional Director Othman Belbeisi.
From: UN
A debate in the British parliament describes the conflict in Sudan as a war being waged on the bodies of women
British MPs discuss the conflict in Sudan and Britain’s humanitarian response.
“Women and girls bear the brunt of the crisis: over 6.7 million of them are at risk of gender-based violence. Between December 2023 and December 2024, the UN found a 29% increase in the number of people seeking sexual and gender-based violence services,” said Harpreet Upal, MP.
From: Hansard
The oil-rich Kordofan region has become a major front line between the army and the RSF.
The region is a vital area for oil as it flows through pipelines in Kordofan, before being exported to South Sudan.
The battle for the region, comprising three states with a population of nearly eight million, has intensified since June.
From: The BBC
