The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned Sunday that persistent drone attacks are severely worsening the humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s Kordofan region. The ongoing violence is compounding civilian suffering by exacerbating a spreading cholera outbreak and causing critical water shortages.
Local sources reported that a drone strike targeted a civilian vehicle near Al-Shaatut village in North Kordofan last Monday, resulting in civilian casualties and property damage. The following day, another drone strike hit a water truck in Hamrat Al-Sheikh, causing additional casualties and further disrupting the population's access to essential water supplies.
The conflict has severely crippled infrastructure in El Obeid, a major city in the region. Continuous drone attacks have reduced the city’s water supply to just 20 percent of what its residents require. This lack of clean water coincides with a widening cholera outbreak, with humanitarian partners recently reporting a suspected case in El Obeid.
The situation is further strained by the city's massive population growth. Originally home to 500,000 residents, El Obeid has become a primary displacement hub, with unofficial estimates now putting the population at approximately 3 million people. For over a month, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have targeted the city's main power station, fuel facilities, and other civilian sites, causing dozens of deaths and injuries.
In response to the compounding crises, international agencies are deploying emergency resources. The World Health Organization (WHO) has pre-positioned cholera response supplies and established a specialized treatment center in El Obeid. Additionally, OCHA has allocated more than 4 million dollars through the Sudan Humanitarian Fund to support healthcare, nutrition, food security, water, sanitation, protection services, and mine action. In neighboring South Kordofan, UNICEF delivered vital health supplies to Abu Jubaiha, supporting emergency and routine medical services for roughly 240,000 people.
The broader conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 due to tensions over integrating the RSF into the national military. The ensuing war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary group has triggered one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions.
