UN envoy arrives in Cairo for Sudan peace talks as Kordofan violence flares
January 13, 2026 (CAIRO) – The United Nations personal envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for the fifth Sudan Consultative Group meeting as international mediators seek to coordinate efforts to end the conflict.
The meeting, hosted by Egypt and running until Jan. 15, is designed to provide a platform for renewed international engagement. Lamamra is scheduled to meet regional and international partners on the sidelines of the event to push for a synchronized approach to peacemaking.
While diplomats gathered in Cairo, the humanitarian situation in Sudan’s Kordofan region has worsened significantly. UN spokespeople said escalating insecurity is disrupting health services and forcing more families to flee their homes.
In the city of Dilling, South Kordofan, a Sudanese medical association reported that three major hospitals have been forced out of service due to shelling. Four doctors were reportedly killed in the violence. UN officials said siege-like conditions have severely restricted the delivery of life-saving aid to those trapped in the city.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said more than 2,200 people were displaced last week from the Abassiya locality and the state capital Kadugli, moving toward White Nile State. Displaced families from North Kordofan also continue to arrive in Gedaref, Khartoum and River Nile states.
Humanitarian capacity in hosting areas is reaching a breaking point. Denise Brown, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, recently visited Al-Afad Camp in Northern State, where authorities say the facility has reached its capacity of 3,000 households. Despite this, between 60 and 80 new families arrive at the camp every day from the Darfur and Kordofan regions.
Sanitation at the camp is critical, with only about 100 latrines available to meet a requirement of roughly 800. Across Northern State, nearly 80,000 displaced families are placing a massive strain on food, water and healthcare services.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has appealed for urgent funding to scale up aid and prevent a deeper catastrophe. For 2026, humanitarian partners are seeking $2.9 billion to assist 20 million people across the country.
The United Nations called on all parties to immediately stop attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and to ensure sustained humanitarian access.