UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 11– Ongoing conflict, displacement and funding shortages continue to deepen humanitarian needs across Sudan, UN humanitarians warned Monday.
In North Kordofan state, insecurity around its capital city of El Obeid continues to endanger civilians, drive displacement and increase humanitarian needs, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Despite the challenging security situation around the state capital, the United Nations and its partners continued to reach people in El Obeid with aid. Relief workers provided some 2 million liters of safe drinking water to about 133,000 people amid severe water shortages in the city, said OCHA.
In West Darfur state, the International Organization for Migration reported that fighting in Sirba locality has displaced an estimated 18,000 people from more than 20 villages since last week. Most have reportedly fled across the border to Chad.
In Central Darfur state, the recent closure of three health facilities due to funding gaps has left some 75,000 displaced people without adequate access to essential health services, said OCHA.
The office called for additional funding from donors for this year’s humanitarian appeal for Sudan, which is about 41 percent funded, with 1.2 billion U.S. dollars received against the required 2.9 billion dollars.
OCHA called on all parties to protect civilians and facilitate rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said at a regular briefing that the UN chief’s personal envoy to Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, has had meetings with both sides of the civil war, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, in an effort to work with them toward a cessation of hostilities and progress in negotiations between the parties.
Haq added that Haavisto’s meetings have included the world body’s regional partners, such as the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. (Xinhua)
