Sudanese conflicting parties urged by EU to temporarily halt humanitarian actions in Al-Fashir - Conflict parties in Sudan urged to cease obstructing humanitarian aid in Al-Fashir, according to the EU.
In the western Darfur region of Sudan, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF militia has resulted in severe acute malnutrition, famine, and cholera outbreaks, causing further deaths and suffering.
The city of Al-Fashir, located in the heart of Darfur, is still under the control of the Sudanese army. However, the RSF holds sway over large areas of the region, including North Darfur around El Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp. Trade routes and supply lines have been cut off for over a year, preventing the delivery of vital humanitarian aid.
The cholera epidemic, primarily affecting Darfur, has claimed at least 40 lives in the region, with the city of Al-Fashir reporting over 60 deaths from starvation in refugee camps within the past week. Cholera, a severe diarrheal disease spread through contaminated water or food, can lead to death within hours if left untreated.
The ongoing power struggle in Sudan, which started in April 2023 between the army of military ruler Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF militia of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has led to widespread human rights abuses, including sexual violence and attacks on civilian infrastructure like markets and hospitals.
In an effort to alleviate the crisis, the European Union (EU) has issued a statement urging all parties in the conflict to ensure immediate, unconditional, safe, and unhindered access to humanitarian aid and to prevent violations against civilians at all times. The statement was also signed by Germany.
However, ceasefire and peace efforts remain stalled amid ongoing hostilities and contested political control. Both SAF and RSF remain engaged in active combat, consolidating territorial control and seeking political influence. The RSF almost entirely controls the Darfur region, while the SAF controls parts of the country, including the capital Khartoum.
The International Criminal Court has found reasonable grounds to believe war crimes and crimes against humanity continue to be committed in Darfur. The conflict has already resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and over 12 million displacements internally and across borders, making Sudan the world’s largest and fastest displacement crisis.
In conclusion, the humanitarian crisis in Darfur is escalating with massive civilian suffering from famine, disease, displacement, and violence, while ceasefire and peace efforts remain stalled amid ongoing hostilities and contested political control. The EU's call for immediate humanitarian aid access and protection of civilians is crucial to mitigating the ongoing suffering in Darfur.
[1] Human Rights Watch. (2025). Sudan: Civilians Suffering in Darfur's Siege. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/31/sudan-civilians-suffering-darfurs-siege
[2] The New York Times. (2025). Sudan's Power Struggle: A Timeline. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/world/africa/sudan-civil-war-timeline.html
[3] Amnesty International. (2024). Sudan: Hundreds of Thousands of Civilians Suffering in Darfur. [online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/08/sudan-hundreds-of-thousands-of-civilians-suffering-in-darfur/
[4] Al Jazeera. (2024). Sudan: UN Declares Famine in Darfur. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/08/19/un-declares-famine-in-darfur-sudan
[5] OCHA. (2025). Sudan: Humanitarian Response Overview. [online] Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/sudan/sudan-humanitarian-response-overview-january-2025
- Beyond the Western Darfur region in Sudan, the European Union (EU) has expressed concern over the critical humanitarian situation, urging all parties to ensure unimpeded access for aid and protection of civilians.
- Amidst the escalating health-and-wellness crisis in Darfur, such as the cholera epidemic, the EU has critically called for action in areas plagued by war-and-conflicts and ongoing political strife, where policy-and-legislation is necessary for a lasting ceasefire and peace.
- In light of the European Union's continued attention to the general-news of Sudan, there is growing importance for the EU to maintain its commitment to aiding affected communities, supporting science and innovation to combat diseases like cholera, and advocating for human rights and wellbeing in the violent and turbulent region.
