Sudan: INGOs Warn of Catastrophic Humanitarian Consequences for Civilians in El Obeid

Nairobi, 20 June 2026 – International non-governmental organisations working in Sudan join recent warnings from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice for Sudan regarding the danger facing civilians in El Obeid, North Kordofan.

The world has already witnessed the alarming consequences for civilians when violence engulfs densely populated urban areas. El Obeid is home to over 563,000 civilians, and currently hosts more than 105,000 displaced people who have fled violence elsewhere in Sudan. Many have already endured repeated displacement, family separation and profound loss. Across the past six months, North Kordofan’s hospitals, schools, markets and civilian infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed by increasing drone strikes. Today, the lives and dignity of the people of El Obeid, and the safety of local humanitarian responders who remain in the city, are at immediate risk.

Humanitarian organisations are alarmed by continued attacks on civilian infrastructure and essential services. Over the past two weeks, intensifying attacks in and around El Obeid, including attacks attributed to Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have killed dozens of civilians according to available reports. In the past few days alone, drone strikes have reportedly killed 23 people and injured 19. A citywide blackout caused by a strike on El Obeid’s main power station has contributed to extensive fuel shortages and disrupted water pumping systems across North Kordofan’s main urban centres. All parties to the conflict must take immediate steps to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

El Obeid serves as a critical commercial and humanitarian hub for Kordofan, and a key gateway for humanitarian operations supporting communities across the region. Any disruption to humanitarian access or commercial supply routes will prevent the movement of aid and essential goods across Kordofan, and place additional pressure on communities already struggling to cope.

As Sudan enters the rainy season, disruption to water, sanitation and health services heightens the risk of disease outbreaks. Further violence will deepen humanitarian needs at a time when millions across Sudan already depend on humanitarian assistance for survival.

The international community has warned of the potentially catastrophic consequences should violence engulf the city. It must not wait until civilians are trapped, displaced or cut off to act.

El Obeid must not be allowed to become the site of further grave violations and preventable humanitarian catastrophe.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, the humanitarian organizations urgently call on all parties to the conflict to:

● Take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and refrain from using weapons that risk indiscriminate harm to civilians.

● Guarantee safe and unimpeded movement for civilians wishing to leave El Obeid and ensure humanitarian and commercial supplies can safely enter the area.

● Ensure the protection of humanitarian responders, community-based organizations, and traders who are maintaining essential services under fire, and refrain from any form of retaliation or collective punishment against civilians.

This is the fifth alarm on the escalation of drone attacks and high civilian toll that the Sudan INGO Forum has released this year. We reiterate our calls on all parties to the conflict to:

● Fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law and their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration and immediately cease attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as humanitarian personnel, assets and aid convoys.

● Adopt and respect a clear no-strike policy on critical civilian infrastructure and commit to prohibiting the military use of civilian infrastructure.

● Allow full, rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access, including across conflict lines, so that life-saving humanitarian assistance can reach civilians in need.We further call on the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent further civilian suffering, support humanitarian access and uphold the protection of civilians.