UN and ICRC warn of worsening humanitarian crisis in Darfur and Khartoum

GENEVA, Switzerland — The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is escalating, with the UN reporting a sharp rise in civilian deaths during the first half of 2025. According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), at least 3,384 civilians were killed, mostly in RSF-controlled Darfur, marking a nearly 80% increase compared to last year.

The ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has caused mass displacement and widespread ethnic violence. Many of the deaths resulted from artillery shelling, airstrikes, and drone attacks in densely populated areas, including the El-Fasher city offensive and displacement camps like Zamzam and Abu Shouk.

OHCHR Sudan representative Li Fung highlighted the severity of the situation: “Every day we are receiving more reports of horrors on the ground,” she said. Summary executions accounted for at least 990 civilian deaths, with numbers tripling in Khartoum after SAF recaptured the city in March. Witnesses reported children as young as 14 being killed during these operations.

Ethnic targeting has intensified the violence, as certain communities are associated with the leadership of either SAF or RSF. Despite repeated denials from both sides, the UN and rights groups warn that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has also raised alarms about worsening conditions, citing cholera outbreaks and limited access to clean water and healthcare in Khartoum. Patrick Youssef, Africa regional director for the ICRC, described the situation as dire: “My worst nightmare would be a bigger spread if displaced populations return too soon,” he said.

As the Sudan war continues, international observers stress the urgent need for humanitarian aid and protection for civilians amid one of the world’s most severe ongoing crises.