Today's top news: Sudan

Sudan

We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian impact of the fighting.

Our humanitarian colleagues tell us there are acute shortages of food, water, medicines and fuel, and limited access to communications and electricity. The price of essential items – as well as transport – are skyrocketing.

There have been additional reports of looting of humanitarian supplies and warehouses. We and our partners continue to call on the parties to respect humanitarian personnel and assets.

The fighting has displaced civilians in the capital Khartoum, as well as Northern, Blue Nile, North Kordofan, North Darfur, West Darfur and South Darfur states.

In areas where intense fighting has hampered our humanitarian operations, the United Nations is reducing its footprint.

A humanitarian leadership team will remain in Sudan to oversee operations. We are establishing a hub in Port Sudan, where a core team of UN staff will lead humanitarian operations in the country.

We and our partners continue to deliver whenever and wherever feasible. In recent days, the World Health Organization and our partners distributed fuel to one of the main hospitals in Khartoum. WHO stands ready to deploy additional emergency medical supplies, such as blood bags, trauma and emergency health kits.

A reminder that humanitarian needs in Sudan were already at record levels before this fighting erupted – with some 15.8 million people – about a third of the population – requiring humanitarian assistance.