The ongoing siege on Zamzam camp on the outskirts of North Darfur State’s capital, El Fasher, is deepening the suffering of thousands of displaced civilians, the UN said.
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq expressed the sentiments during a press briefing on Monday and said the crisis at the camp had worsened during Ramadhan, with food shortages becoming even more severe.
“Prices of basic goods have skyrocketed, making essential items unaffordable for most families,” he said, noting that UN partners on the ground were reporting signs of growing hunger.
According to Haq, despite severe access challenges, humanitarian teams were providing food, water, and urgent medical care, but the needs were far outpacing the available resources.
“The situation has become even more critical due to funding cuts and the withdrawal of most aid organizations assisting in the area due to insecurity,” he stated. “And as you will recall, the World Food Program and its partners were forced to suspend operations in Zamzam last month.”
The UN deputy spokesperson noted that there were also serious concerns over reports of grave human rights violations in Khartoum as fighting raged and lines of control shifted rapidly.
“Two weeks ago, front-line aid workers recorded more than 800 cases of severe child malnutrition, with numbers continuing to rise,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UN warned that cases of anemia, hepatitis, night blindness, and malaria are increasing due to the shortage of medicines in the few remaining functional health facilities.
“OCHA stresses that the scale of suffering in Sudan is staggering, and without swift intervention, the consequences will be devastating for millions,” Haq stated. “The UN calls once again for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan and unhindered humanitarian access to deliver life-saving aid.”