Sudan – The Human Rights Council adopts a resolution on the situation in the city of El Obeid

The Human Rights Council held an urgent discussion session on the human rights situation in the city of El Obeid and its environs in the context of the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The session came in response to a request submitted by a group of countries including Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

The United Nations is in contact with the parties concerned

In a related context, the United Nations stated that the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, made a phone call earlier today, Monday, with the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said – in the daily press conference – that Fletcher discussed with Hemedti the escalation of hostilities in Sudan, including in the city of El Obeid.

Mr. Fletcher stressed the need to ensure safe access for humanitarian workers to those in need, and to secure the movement of civilians. He also expressed concern about the impact of drone attacks on civilians and the infrastructure on which they depend.

They also discussed challenges affecting the ability of the United Nations and its NGO partners to implement life-saving relief operations, including existing bureaucratic obstacles.

Dujarric said that, in recent days, Mr. Fletcher has been in contact with a number of key stakeholders to stress the need to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access, in addition to protecting civilians.

The Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator concludes a visit to El Obeid

In the same context, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown, yesterday, Sunday, concluded a field visit to the city of El Obeid, during which she met with humanitarian partners and was informed of the impact of the attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Across the Kordofan region, the humanitarian community said it was fully mobilized to deal with the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation.

In West Kordofan, where more than 800 cases of cholera have been recorded, the Office of Humanitarian Affairs reported the allocation of more than $1 million through the Sudan Humanitarian Fund to support water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, in addition to the health response to the epidemic.

In South Kordofan, humanitarian partners confirmed the arrival of a humanitarian aid convoy to Kadugli and Dilling last Thursday, which included 14 World Food Program trucks loaded with food supplies, three World Health Organization trucks carrying about 8.5 metric tons of medical supplies, including cholera supplies, and four Plan International trucks carrying humanitarian supplies.

These are the first UN humanitarian supplies to reach these areas since the beginning of June.

The deteriorating situation in Darfur hampers humanitarian operations

In Darfur, the United Nations reported that continued clashes were hampering humanitarian operations and pushing people to flee. In Kulbus locality, West Darfur state, the situation remains tense, with sporadic clashes recorded in the northern parts of the locality, forcing humanitarian partners to suspend some activities or postpone planned field missions.

In North Darfur, the International Organization for Migration estimated that insecurity led to the displacement of more than 3,500 people from a village in Ambro locality on 3 July.

The United Nations renewed its call to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to enable all parties to facilitate rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all those in need.

About 330 children were killed or injured during the first half of 2026

UNICEF has warned that Sudan’s children continue to bear the brunt of a war that is becoming more deadly by the day, with at least 330 children reported killed or injured during the first six months of 2026. Darfur and Kordofan states continue to record the highest rates of child casualties.

In a statement today, Monday, the organization expressed special concern about the situation in the city of El Obeid and its environs, and in North Kordofan in general. Since May 2026, drone attacks and other combat operations have resulted in more than 35 child casualties in the state, including at least 18 children killed and more than 17 injured.

The ages of the affected children ranged from only two months to 17 years. According to reports, drone attacks accounted for 60 percent of these casualties, reflecting the increasing impact of this type of fighting on children and families.

Repeated drone attacks and bombing also caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, health facilities, water networks, and markets, in addition to disrupting supply routes and overburdening basic services.

With an estimated 500,000 civilians at risk in El Obeid city and areas of North Kordofan, any further deterioration could expose more children to death, injury, displacement or other serious protection risks.

No safe place for children

Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative in Sudan, said: “Children are pushed into an endless cycle of violence, displacement and deprivation. For many of them, there is no longer a safe place. They are killed and injured in their homes, on the roads, in markets, and while trying to access basic services such as education and health care. Children must never be a target. Their lives, their rights and their future must be protected.”

UNICEF added that the constant threat of attacks has increased levels of fear, anxiety and psychological trauma among children, especially in communities that have been subjected to repeated bombing and displacement. Not only do children face the risk of death or direct injury, but conflict also exposes them to grave violations, including recruitment and use, kidnapping, sexual violence, and attacks on schools and hospitals.

UNICEF called on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, allow rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, and take all possible measures to protect children from harm.