UN warns of crisis in Sudan’s Dilling as isolation persists

January 28, 2026 (UNITED NATIONS) – The humanitarian situation in Dilling, South Kordofan’s second-largest city, has reached crisis levels as prolonged isolation and severed access routes choke off essential supplies, a United Nations spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a noon briefing, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres, described the conditions in the city as “highly volatile.” He noted that while half of Dilling’s civilian population fled last year, those remaining face critical shortages of food, healthcare, and basic necessities.

“Humanitarian operations remain limited, with only a small number of non-governmental organizations operating under severe constraints,” Dujarric said.

The conflict continues to drive mass displacement across the region. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), more than 88,000 people were displaced across Kordofan between late October and mid-January.

The warning follows a major shift in the city’s military status. On Jan. 26, the Sudanese army announced it had officially broken a long-running siege of Dilling, which had been choked off by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied fighters from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) for more than a year and a half. The breakthrough followed a successful military operation that secured the eastern road link to North Kordofan, regaining control of strategic locations including the town of Habila.

In North Darfur, Dujarric reported that drone strikes on Monday killed and injured civilians, destroyed livelihoods, and damaged fragile health facilities. Displaced families continue to stream into the Tawila locality, many arriving from the state capital, El Fasher.

“A field visit yesterday by our teams and partners saw families arriving… They need food, shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and nutrition support,” he added.

The United Nations urged the warring parties in Sudan to immediately de-escalate violence and engage in dialogue to achieve a cessation of hostilities. It also appealed to international donors to increase funding to ensure aid reaches the millions in need.