The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, is preparing to travel to the region next week in a renewed push for dialogue, the organisation has announced.
Lamamra will visit Port Sudan and Addis Ababa amid ongoing conflict and a severe humanitarian crisis.
According to a UN spokesperson, the envoy “continues to encourage the warring parties to engage in a genuine dialogue to advance peace” and is working with regional partners, including the African Union and the Arab League.
Civilians ‘in dire need’
The protection of civilians is expected to be a central focus of the talks, with the situation in the city of El Fasher described as “dire”.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is currently providing aid to families who have fled the city to surrounding areas. Distributions are also reaching people who have arrived in more distant locations, including Khartoum.
A convoy carrying 1,485 metric tonnes of food and nutrition supplies—enough for about 130,000 people—is currently en route to the area of Tawila.
Fighting continues to drive large-scale displacement, particularly in the Kordofan regions.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that on Tuesday alone, more than 1,800 people were displaced across South Kordofan State.
In North Kordofan, heightened insecurity forced nearly 40,000 people from their homes between late October and mid-November.
Despite access challenges, aid agencies are scaling up their response. In North Kordofan, the UN’s Sudan Humanitarian Fund has released more than $5m to support critical services, including health, nutrition and shelter.
However, the UN has warned that funding is insufficient to meet the escalating needs.
A $4.2bn humanitarian appeal for Sudan is only about a third funded, with $1.4bn received.