The United Nations has issued a stark warning that the opportunity to prevent an escalation of fighting in El-Obeid, Sudan, is quickly fading. UN Undersecretary for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that the increasing use of drones by both parties in the conflict is making the situation more unpredictable and dangerous for civilians.
Rising Tensions and Drone Usage
El-Obeid, a strategic hub in the southern Kordofan region, has been encircled for months by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that has been fighting Sudan's army since April 2023. For the past week, the UN, several governments, and non-governmental organizations have warned of a possible imminent RSF offensive, similar to the brutal seizure of El-Fasher in Darfur last year.
DiCarlo highlighted that drone attacks by both parties have significantly increased over the past two weeks, while the RSF has expanded its presence around the city. She emphasized that the window to avert a wider escalation in El-Obeid is rapidly narrowing.
Civilian Impact and Urgent Calls for Action
UNICEF's Deputy Executive Director Hannan Suleiman warned that an estimated 500,000 civilians are at risk as the fighting intensifies. She stressed that children are in immediate and growing danger of being killed, injured, displaced, or exposed to other grave violations, adding that 'the children of Sudan cannot survive on expressions of concern.'
DiCarlo called for all external actors to use their influence to help end the war, rather than be complicit in it. She warned that there are clear signs of worse things to come if immediate action is not taken.
Background and Broader Crisis
The conflict in Sudan has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and forced more than 11 million people from their homes, creating what the UN describes as the world's largest displacement and hunger crises. The use of drones in the conflict is making it more unpredictable, geographically dispersed, and lethal for civilians, potentially eliminating the traditional drop in fighting during the rainy season.
