23-29 November Sudan News Summary: displacement, lack of aid, and evidence of atrocities

29 Nov

Arabic news roundup

By William Greenwood

Amidst escalating military operations between the Sudanese army and the RSF in the Kordofan states, the suffering of civilians is worsening alarmingly, with a rising number of extrajudicial killings and forced displacements.
Citizens are being detained within their villages, prevented from leaving and moving to safer areas, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation they face.
One survivor recounted how five civilians from her extended family were killed by RSF elements while fleeing from the Abu Zabad area in West Kordofan to El Obeid.
Many areas are under tight siege, preventing civilians from contacting their relatives abroad., forcing some to resort to clandestinely using available networks to communicate with their families under dangerous conditions.
With the escalating conflict, residents of conflict zones in Kordofan are among the most affected by the situation on the ground, living daily in fear, anxiety, and shortages of food and medicine.

A US State Department official said the United States continues to adapt its humanitarian response to the evolving humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
The official told Sudan Tribune that more than 65,000 metric tons of bulk wheat and wheat flour have been delivered to Port Sudan, enough to meet the food needs of up to 3.2 million people for a full month.
He explained that the US administration has provided emergency assistance to more than four million refugees in seven neighbouring countries.
He also called for cooperation with international partners to press for unimpeded humanitarian access and the protection of civilians.
In October 2025, prices of most basic food commodities rose and famine spread in several areas of the country, leading to an increase in the average cost of a local food basket provided by the World Food Programme to 2,252 Sudanese pounds per unit, a 7% increase from September and a 15% increase from the same month last year, according to UN reports.

By Samuel Hunt

The head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warns that humanitarian operations in North Darfur are “on the brink of collapse”: warehouses are nearly empty, convoys face serious security risks, and access restrictions are preventing delivery of food, water, medical supplies, and other relief to those displaced by the conflict.
The NGO Save the Children delivered a major consignment of 40 tonnes of medicines, medical kits, therapeutic food, and supplies to Port Sudan in November. This is the largest NGO delivery since March and is intended to supply health facilities for 6–12 months, reaching displaced communities, including those from El Fasher and Tawila.
Despite this delivery, more than 75% of health facilities in conflict-affected areas remain non-functional, often due to looting, attacks, or lack of staff and supplies, meaning many displaced people (especially children and pregnant women) still lack access to care.

Sources: UN, Save the Children, ABC

Amnesty International reports that RSF fighters carried out targeted killings of unarmed civilians, including executing men who were ordered to lie face down before being shot.
Testimonies collected from survivors describe widespread rape of women and girls, with some victims assaulted repeatedly while fleeing the city.
Witnesses recount seeing hundreds of bodies on streets, along escape routes, and in makeshift mass-burial areas, evidence supported by videos and satellite imagery reviewed by Amnesty.
Amnesty and rights experts state that the abuses likely constitute war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity under international law.

At least 400 unaccompanied children have reached Tawila after escaping El Fasher, many arriving terrified, injured, or in shock, with no idea where their families are.
Children describe walking for days through dangerous terrain while hearing gunfire and witnessing violence, leaving many with severe psychological trauma.
Many children remain missing or unaccounted for, with survivors reporting that some families were separated during attacks or while fleeing; others may still be trapped inside the city.
UN agencies and humanitarian groups warn that the collapse of services — combined with large numbers of unaccompanied minors — has created an acute protection crisis, with children at growing risk of hunger, exploitation, and violence.

Bill Greenwood