UN envoy calls for urgent ceasefire in Sudan’s North Darfur as crisis deepens
May 11, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – The United Nations Resident Representative in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, called on Sunday for an urgent cessation of hostilities in North Darfur State and de-escalation to allow the delivery of life-saving aid.
Most Sudanese are living in the midst of significant humanitarian suffering as a result of the war, which has entered its third year, further worsening the situation in North Darfur due to continued fighting and large-scale displacement, especially in El Fasher and the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps.
Salami said in a statement on her “X” platform account: “The situation in Abu Shouk and Zamzam in North Darfur is catastrophic. Civilians are trapped. Aid cannot reach those who need it most. I urgently call for a ceasefire and humanitarian pauses to deliver life-saving assistance.”
In a report on May 9th, OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) stated that there are approximately 300,000 displaced people in the Tawila camp who are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Furthermore, 180,000 displaced people remain stranded in the Zamzam camp, located 12 kilometres southwest of El Fasher, which was seized by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 14th, following months of artillery shelling and intermittent ground incursions.
Out of 406,000 people displaced from the Zamzam camp, 83,000 individuals fled to El Fasher, whose residents are living under a severe crisis due to food and water shortages and a lack of medicine as a result of the siege imposed by the RSF on the city for a year.
North of El Fasher, where the Abu Shouk camp, housing 190,000 displaced people, is located, the crisis is worsening due to the almost daily shelling by the RSF.
In a related context, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced that it has launched this year’s seed distribution campaign in West Darfur State, where food insecurity is at its worst.
It reported that it began distributing 50,000 kilograms of sorghum seeds to 5,000 families, benefiting up to 25,000 people.
The United Nations says that the Darfur region is facing a horrific humanitarian crisis, with 79% of its population in need of humanitarian assistance and protection.