Tom Fletcher, the UN Resident Coordinator and Emergency Relief Coordinator, expressed deep concern about reports of civilian casualties and forced displacement amid escalating fighting in Al-Fashir, where intense shelling and ground assaults have overrun the city.
“With fighters advancing on the city and escape routes cut off, hundreds of thousands of civilians are besieged, being shelled, starving, and lacking food, health care and security,” Fletcher said in a statement.
He stressed the need to allow safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need, noting that relief agencies have life-saving supplies but the intense attacks have made delivery impossible. He added that local humanitarian workers continue to save lives under fire.
Fletcher called for an immediate ceasefire in Al-Fashir, throughout Darfur and across Sudan, and demanded that civilians be allowed to move to safety and receive assistance. “Those fleeing to safer areas must be able to do so safely and with dignity; those who remain — including local responders — must be protected; attacks on civilians, hospitals and humanitarian operations must stop immediately,” he said.
He also called for accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human-rights law, and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law as reflected in UN Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024).
