UN warns of potential catastrophe as RSF besieges El-Obeid

The United Nations has issued an urgent warning that the city of el‑Obeid in Sudan faces the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe following a wave of atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the neighboring town of el‑Fasher last year. The warning was released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) after field assessments indicated a sharp increase in civilian casualties, forced displacement, and the destruction of essential infrastructure in the region.

UN officials say that the aftermath of the RSF attacks in el‑Fasher has left thousands of residents without access to food, clean water, and medical services, creating a precarious situation that could spill over into el‑Obeid, a major population centre in North Kordofan. Humanitarian agencies are calling for immediate protection measures, the safe passage of aid convoys, and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to prevent a broader crisis. The UN has appealed to all parties in the Sudan conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to allow unimpeded delivery of assistance to the affected communities.