Beirut – Khartoum: Europe and the Arabs

The UN spokesperson expressed grave concern over the escalating violence in the states of Kordofan and Blue Nile, where fierce fighting continues to harm civilians and impede the delivery of desperately needed life-saving humanitarian aid, according to the UN daily news bulletin.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric cited local sources reporting an increase in drone attacks in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, since last Friday. The Sudanese Doctors Network reported that a medical facility was damaged yesterday, and 12 people were injured, including five medical personnel.

Clashes continue in South Kordofan, particularly in and around the town of Dilling. Fighting along key supply routes is disrupting commercial transport and humanitarian operations.

In Blue Nile State, the town of Kurmuk has been subjected to intense drone attacks over the past two weeks. A school was reportedly destroyed, and a power station was damaged.

By Saturday, 1,000 families had fled Kurmuk to the city of Damazin due to the ongoing insecurity. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the situation is dire and that people are in urgent need of assistance. OCHA is working with its partners to scale up aid as much as possible.

An OCHA team recently visited the Da’ayeen Hospital in East Darfur, which provides up to 200 outpatient consultations and 15 cesarean deliveries daily to residents of Darfur and Kordofan. The hospital is facing a funding shortfall that could jeopardize essential services.

Meanwhile, a massive fire in Kalma camp in Nyala, South Darfur, destroyed approximately 700 homes.

This comes amid a deteriorating humanitarian situation and severe service shortages following the suspension of some activities in January. The camp is also facing a growing measles outbreak, and OCHA is mobilizing partners to respond.

The UN spokesperson called on all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, ensure rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, and adhere to international humanitarian law. He emphasized the urgent need for sustainable and flexible funding to maintain life-saving services and prevent further deterioration. In another development, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric expressed grave concern over the exchange of fire across the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel.

"The situation on the ground is evolving rapidly, and we are monitoring developments closely," Dujarric said at his daily press briefing.

He explained that they had been informed of the attacks targeting Israel, which were claimed by Hezbollah, and the Israeli strikes that reportedly killed 31 people and injured many others north of the Blue Line in Lebanon.

"We urge maximum restraint and call on all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement," the UN spokesperson said.

He noted that both the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major General Diodato Abagnara, are in contact with the parties to de-escalate the situation and maintain stability across the Blue Line.

He affirmed that UNIFIL peacekeepers remain in their positions despite the challenging circumstances.