18-24 January 2026 Sudan News Summary: humanitarian crisis of camps, water, and disease
Arabic news roundup
By William Greenwood
Tawila, the largest gathering of displaced people in Darfur… immense needs and suffering children
The Tawila area in North Darfur State is home to the largest gathering of internally displaced people in the region.
The United Nations estimates that approximately 500,000 people have arrived in the area, fleeing El Fasher and surrounding areas, as well as other regions, with most arriving in extremely dire conditions.
UNICEF revealed the harsh humanitarian conditions faced by children in Darfur, where thousands endure repeated displacement, psychological trauma, and a lack of basic services amidst ongoing fighting.
A 10-day visit by a UNICEF delegation to Darfur allowed the team to assess the situation of children, particularly the most vulnerable, identify their needs, and determine the support required and currently being provided.
The delegation's visit coincided with the final days of a major measles vaccination campaign launched by UNICEF in early January, in collaboration with health authorities and partners, targeting 6 million children across Darfur.
From: Dabanga
Water crisis in East Darfur amid spare parts blockade
Residents of several localities in East Darfur State have expressed concern about a worsening water crisis with the onset of summer, due to the difficulty in obtaining spare parts for water stations.
A former maintenance worker in the state stated that the army has deliberately prevented spare parts from reaching Darfur, making them extremely difficult to acquire, and warned that the crisis will worsen in the coming days.
He mentioned that the state's water authority attempted to procure spare parts from neighbouring countries, but the process is prohibitively expensive, creating a financial burden that has impacted water prices.
If the situation continues, the price of a barrel of water could more than double, reaching 3,000 Sudanese pounds instead of 1,500.
He explained that humanitarian organisations and volunteer groups are working on solutions through solar energy projects, but these projects are insufficient to meet the increasing demand for water resulting from population density and displacement, especially since most stations operate directly on solar panels due to the lack of storage batteries and their high cost.
Several areas in East Darfur are suffering from a water crisis, which occurred frequently even before the outbreak of fighting between the army and the RSF in April 2023.
Residents of East Darfur rely on water stations known locally as "donkeys" for drinking water, but most of these stations have been vandalised and looted and water authorities face significant challenges in procuring spare parts to restore them to operation.
From: Darfur24
English news roundup
By Samuel Hunt
Sudan’s war leaves children without an education and women bearing the highest costs of the war
Across Sudan more than 8 million children – nearly half of Sudan’s 17 million school-aged children - have spent about 484 days without entering a classroom.
This is one of the longest school closures anywhere in the world.
Millions of children remain out of school as classrooms are destroyed, occupied or inaccessible due to fighting and displacement, raising fears of a lost generation with long-term consequences for protection, mental health and future livelihoods.
Education agencies warn that prolonged disruption is increasing risks of child labour, early marriage and recruitment by armed groups, compounding the damage already inflicted by war and displacement.
Women fleeing fighting or living in displacement camps report assaults, harassment and abuse by armed groups, while access to protection, reproductive healthcare and support services remains extremely limited.
Aid workers and civilians say women are facing the brunt of violence in Sudan’s war, with widespread insecurity, armed attacks and intimidation making daily survival and humanitarian work increasingly dangerous.
Sources: ABC News, Save the Children
Infectious diseases spread rapidly in Sudan’s displacement camps as health system buckles
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports that in Tawila, North Darfur, large numbers of newly displaced people are arriving in overcrowded camps, placing extreme pressure on limited health services amid high levels of injury, malnutrition and disease.
Julie Faucon, MSF medical team leader in Tawila, said: “These internally displaced people arrive in Tawila dehydrated. They are malnourished. They are in very poor medical condition, with many wounded, some 3–6 months ago. And some of them have had very little care and so their wounds are now infected.”
Camp conditions — including severe overcrowding, poor sanitation and unsafe water — are accelerating the spread of infectious diseases and undermining efforts to control outbreaks.
Health workers report that women are giving birth in displacement camps with extremely limited access to medical care, increasing the risks of complications for both mothers and newborns in already fragile and unhygienic conditions.
Children are among the hardest hit, with high levels of malnutrition and infectious illness, while disrupted vaccination and limited paediatric care leave many especially vulnerable to preventable disease and long-term harm.
Sources: BMJ