The UN has expressed profound distress over a devastating assault on El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur, and the nearby Abu Shouk displacement camp. This recent escalation, attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in the deaths of at least 40 civilians and injuries to 19 others in Abu Shouk, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis.

Sheldon Yett, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, has condemned the violence, highlighting the catastrophic consequences for civilians trapped under siege. He emphasized the dire shortages of food, clean water, and medical care, urging all parties to agree to an immediate humanitarian pause, establish safe corridors, and allow unhindered access for aid deliveries.

Earlier this year, the UN Security Council described North Darfur as a "hellscape" plagued by violence, sexual assault, and targeted attacks on humanitarian workers. The Council members have demanded compliance with international humanitarian law in response to the escalating violence.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also raised alarms about the health impacts of the ongoing siege. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, reported that the renewed violence in El Fasher and Zamzam camp had displaced over 400,000 people. Sudan is currently facing the world's worst hunger crisis, with 24.6 million people in severe food insecurity, including 770,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition.

The toll on children and aid workers has been particularly severe. UNICEF confirmed that in just three days, at least 23 children and nine aid workers were killed in Al Fasher, Abu Shouk, and Zamzam camps. Over three months, more than 140 children were reported killed or maimed in Al Fasher alone. UNICEF has called for urgent protection of civilians and immediate humanitarian access.

The G7 Foreign Ministers have also voiced their condemnation of the RSF's attacks on displacement camps and stressed the crucial need to protect civilians. They underscored that all parties must facilitate humanitarian aid and respect international law.

As the siege on El Fasher tightens, UN agencies and humanitarian partners warn that without immediate and sustained access, the conditions could deteriorate beyond recovery. This dire warning underscores the potential for civilians, especially children, to bear the brunt of continued starvation, disease, and indiscriminate violence. The international community remains watchful and deeply concerned as the situation unfolds.