Meanwhile, the situation in and around El Fasher – which UN aid chief Tom Fletcher called a “possible crime scene” after its capture by militia fighters during his visit last month – remains dire. Civilians attempting to escape continue to face serious risks along unsafe routes.
“We cannot stress enough that civilians wishing to flee must be allowed safe passage and must be able to access humanitarian assistance.”said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric at the daily press conference.
Hospitals are not saved
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that attacks on healthcare in Sudan continue. Most of the Al-Nuhud hospital in West Kordofan has been invaded, depriving communities of essential medical care.
The UN agency has verified 198 attacks on healthcare since the conflict began in April 2023, killing more than 1,700 healthcare workers and patients and injuring more than 400.
Children are the most affected
In Tawila, North Darfur, where many displaced people have sought refuge, the arrival of people who fled El Fasher continues to strain services.
The sites are overcrowded and malnutrition and disease are on the rise. UNICEF registered almost 950 separated or unaccompanied children in Tawila and other parts of the region.
According to the UN, its partners and state health authorities, the level of child malnutrition in White Nile State is “alarming.” More than 30 percent of children are underweight and one in three are stunted in El Jabalain, while limited access to clean water, low vaccination coverage and poor feeding practices fuel a 13 percent acute malnutrition rate in Tendelti.
The response still lacks sufficient funds
“Despite all this, We continue to do everything we can to provide assistance.”Dujarric stressed.
Over the past month, UNICEF and its partners have provided water to tens of thousands of people, delivering 132,000 liters per day.
They also treated acute malnutrition and provided psychosocial support to more than 3,000 young people.
However, with only a few weeks left until the end of the year, the humanitarian response plan for Sudan is only 35 percent funded.
“We urge donors to step up and remain committed to supporting the millions of people who find themselves in such an extreme situation in Sudan,” Mr. Dujarric stressed.