The United Nations issued a warning on Thursday regarding the dire situation in two southern Sudan states, which it described as being “on the brink of catastrophe.” This follows a recent outbreak of violence that reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 80 individuals in the city of Kadugli, located in South Kordofan state.
The renewed fighting began last week between the Sudanese army and a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, confirmed that the violence in Kadugli alone has claimed the lives of at least 80 people.
In her statement, Nkweta-Salami condemned the use of women and children as human shields, the obstruction of humanitarian aid, and the detention of civilians, including children. The ongoing conflict has escalated since April 2023, when the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began fighting for control of the country, leading to a widespread humanitarian crisis.
Hilu’s faction of the SPLM-N has engaged in clashes with both the army and the Rapid Support Forces since the onset of the war. Recent days have seen accusations from both the army and the SPLM-N of targeting civilians in attacks aimed at consolidating territorial control.
The UN warned that this escalating violence is exacerbating an already critical humanitarian situation, with millions facing limitations in accessing life-saving aid. The statement highlighted the alarming consequences of food insecurity in South Kordofan, where families are reliant on dangerously scant food supplies, leading to a sharp rise in malnutrition rates.
Approximately half a million people are reported to be on the brink of famine in the regions of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. A UN-backed assessment has already declared famine conditions in parts of the Nuba Mountains, an area where the SPLM-N holds influence.
Overall, fighting in Sudan since April 2023 has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, displaced around 12 million people, and pushed nearly 26 million individuals into acute food insecurity.
