UN Warns of Escalating Humanitarian Catastrophe as Displacement from El Fasher Exceeds 100,000

The United Nations has sounded the alarm over an escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region, as the number of people fleeing the city of El Fasher and surrounding areas has surpassed 100,000 since late October, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told Al Qahera News that the recent waves of displacement reflect the “magnitude of the rapidly worsening humanitarian catastrophe” unfolding in the region.

Laerke stressed that the UN’s deepest concern is not only for those who managed to escape the violence, but also for the thousands who remain trapped inside El Fasher. He noted that UN teams still lack full access to the city, preventing them from conducting direct assessments or hearing firsthand accounts from residents enduring the crisis.

“Humanitarian access to the city is extremely challenging,” he said, citing ongoing security risks that continue to impede relief operations.

UN missions to other parts of Darfur have collected harrowing testimonies from people who fled El Fasher after suffering severe trauma and significant losses. These displaced families are currently receiving only limited assistance in areas that are relatively safer, Laerke added.

He warned that the humanitarian situation across Darfur is deteriorating rapidly, stressing that the need to scale up aid is now more urgent than ever.

The crisis comes against a backdrop of widespread hunger across Sudan. Rights groups, including Sudan Doctors for Human Rights, recently reported that 25 million people nationwide are facing acute food insecurity.