Khartoum – Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

The European Union is deeply concerned about the situation in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan. A large military buildup by the Rapid Support Forces is threatening the city, which currently shelters 500,000 civilians, including some 100,000 internally displaced persons. According to a statement issued in Brussels by the office of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kayla Kallas, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) must immediately cease all military operations in and around El Obeid that endanger civilians. El Obeid cannot become another El Fasher.

All parties to the conflict must fully respect international humanitarian law and human rights law, including the protection of civilians, particularly women and girls, and civilian infrastructure.
Any attack targeting the civilian population, preventing their safe passage, or any act that deliberately obstructs humanitarian access to those in need constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and will prompt the EU to consider taking strong measures against those responsible.
The EU urges all foreign actors, in accordance with their commitments under the Berlin Principles, to immediately cease any direct or indirect support that contributes to the continuation and escalation of the conflict.
The EU calls on all parties to the conflict to return to negotiations for a permanent ceasefire, ensure rapid, safe, unimpeded, principled, and sustained humanitarian access, and support a Sudanese-led civilian political process leading to the restoration of civilian rule. Civilian rule, accountability, and respect for international law.

As a member of the Quintet, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to the Sudanese people and will continue to support efforts to end the suffering, promote justice and accountability, and achieve peace within the framework of a peaceful, Sudanese-led transition to civilian rule.

This comes as a new cholera outbreak in Sudan has claimed more than 100 lives, raising concerns for the most vulnerable, particularly in the besieged city of El Obeid, where daily drone attacks continue to impede humanitarian access.

"Cholera has resurfaced and is affecting several states, particularly in the western part of the country, in Darfur and Kordofan," said Dr. Shibl Sahbani, the World Health Organization's representative in Sudan.

Speaking to reporters in Geneva on Friday, the UN official reported more than 1,330 confirmed cases and 114 deaths from the preventable but potentially fatal disease.

He noted that the true death toll could be much higher, explaining that aid agencies feel... With grave concern over the potential spread of the disease among the hundreds of thousands of people who have fled towns and rural areas in North Kordofan.

Increased susceptibility to disease

Dr. Sahbani explained that the mortality rate among those infected with cholera is currently at an "extremely high" level of 13.7 percent, and he expects it to worsen with the onset of the upcoming rainy season.

Sudan is currently experiencing the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with more than 33 million people in need of assistance, including 21 million requiring health services.

Although some residents have returned to states where the situation is "beginning to improve," including the capital, Khartoum, the WHO representative confirmed that 13.4 million people remain displaced, including 9 million within Sudan and 4.6 million in neighboring countries.

In addition to cholera, current disease outbreaks include dengue fever, malaria, meningitis, hepatitis E, and measles.

"We are particularly concerned about the spread of cholera to El Obeid in North Kordofan, where access is extremely limited, and where there are significant challenges," Sahbani said. The fragile health system is under increasing pressure.

He added: “Health facilities there are overcrowded, and access to healthcare is extremely limited.” A call to strengthen aid access
The UN official explained that the organization had already prepositioned enough health supplies to meet the needs of more than 25,000 people in El Obeid, but acknowledged that “this is not enough.”

He added that the World Health Organization delivered 8.5 tons of medical supplies to the cities of Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan on Monday, as part of a joint UN agency convoy.
This was the first WHO shipment to reach Kadugli since December 2024, due to access obstacles.

Dr. Shibl Sahbani reiterated the calls recently made by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk to the international community to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and to prevent a repeat of the mass killings witnessed in El Fasher when the Rapid Support Forces entered the city last October.

He said: “We call on our partners and donors to help us first and foremost to gain access to The first is to send enough supplies and facilities to the White House. But we know the situation there is very bad, and is even getting worse, with rising risks of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and violence, including violence against women and children.