7-13 December Sudan News Summary: drone atrocity in Kordofan, aid system in state of collapse

15 Dec

Arabic news roundup

By William Greenwood

The preparatory committee of the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate revealed on Saturday a rise in mortality rates among children and pregnant women as diseases continue to spread in North and South Kordofan.
The shift of the conflict's epicentre to Kordofan has disrupted supply routes, increased displacement, and led to the spread of diseases, amid warnings of a worsening situation as fighting continues.
The official spokesperson for the preparatory committee of the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate, Sayed Mohamed Abdullah, stated that the committee has documented the suffering of more than 350,000 people from severe food shortages in the Bara area of North Kordofan State and the Dilling and Kadugli areas of South Kordofan State.
He noted that the number of children who have not received vaccinations in North and South Kordofan has reached more than 21,000, while approximately 12,000 pregnant women have not received their routine immunisations.
Abdullah also revealed an increase in cases of measles, pertussis (whooping cough), and tuberculosis, with more than 250 cases of tuberculosis reported.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced it will begin reducing food rations for Sudanese facing famine due to a funding shortfall. This comes as a recent assessment by a UN partner organisation indicated that more than 1,200 families in Khartoum State are suffering from acute food insecurity.
Meanwhile, the operations director for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) declared the collapse of all life-saving systems in Sudan, warning that nearly 9 million people are facing food insecurity.
In a related development, Ross Smith, Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the WFP, stated in a video briefing to journalists that the program “will be forced, starting in January, to reduce food rations by 70% for communities facing famine and by 50% for communities at risk of slipping into famine.”
Smith added that the funding crisis is likely to worsen in the coming months, noting that “starting in April, we will face a funding collapse,” which threatens the program’s ability to continue meeting the basic food needs of millions of people in Sudan.
The WFP confirmed that This reduction comes at a time when the humanitarian situation is deteriorating sharply, with hunger spreading and the number of people entirely dependent on food aid to survive increasing.
According to the United Nations, many families in Khartoum are now resorting to borrowing food, skipping meals, or selling what little belongings they have left to survive.

By Samuel Hunt

The World Health Organization reports that a series of drone strikes in South Kordofan killed 114 people, including 63 children, when a nursery, paramedics, and a hospital were hit in attacks over the course of a week. These strikes also wounded dozens and even survivors who were being moved for treatment came under fire.
Human rights and civilian protection groups describe these attacks on schools, health teams, and medical facilities as serious violations of international humanitarian law because of their impact on children and non-combatants.
UNICEF and other humanitarian organisations have condemned the targeting of children’s sites, urging all parties to cease attacks on civilians and to permit safe, unrestricted access for lifesaving humanitarian aid.

The World Food Programme warns of a massive humanitarian aid crisis as the war obstructs access to food and assistance for millions of Sudanese, leaving many without basic supplies.
WFP officials report an imminent reduction in food rations, with famine-affected communities set to receive only 70% of their needs and those at risk just 50% from January due to funding and logistical challenges.
The UN’s aid coordination office (OCHA) has reduced its 2026 funding appeal, leading to fewer people being reached and gaps in emergency food, shelter, health, and protection services.
Relief operations are on the brink of collapse as warehouses empty, convoys cannot safely reach displaced populations, and funding remains insufficient to respond to growing needs.
UN and humanitarian partners emphasise that tens of millions of civilians urgently require life-saving aid, including food, clean water, healthcare, and protection, as conflict, displacement, and economic collapse worsen daily.

Bill Greenwood