The United Nations Gradually Returns to Khartoum for the First Time Since the Outbreak of the War… Dujarric: An Important Step to Strengthen Humanitarian Coordination

The UN Country Team in Sudan held its first meeting in Khartoum on Monday since the war erupted in April 2023, in what the organization described as an “important step” toward reinforcing its field presence and humanitarian coordination inside the country.
Since the start of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, the UN had relocated its operations to the coastal city of Port Sudan due to the deteriorating security situation in the capital. The UN team comprises 28 agencies, funds, and programs that have continued delivering aid despite the war, relying on Port Sudan as a logistical base.
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said at a press briefing in New York:
“The gradual return to the capital is an important step and signals strengthened coordination and UN engagement on the ground.”
A Dire Humanitarian Situation
The UN confirmed that the humanitarian situation in Sudan remains catastrophic, particularly amid large-scale displacement from El Fasher and other areas in Darfur and Kordofan. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and its partners are conducting field monitoring operations in Tawila and Al-Dabba to assess urgent needs, including:
Support for survivors of sexual violence
Tracking children separated from their families
Providing shelter, food, and essential supplies
Issuing identification documents for those affected
The UN also continues providing assistance to thousands of Sudanese fleeing into Chad, where camps are being expanded and new facilities constructed to cope with the rapidly increasing influx of refugees.
Warning Over Lack of Shelter and Sanitation Facilities
Dujarric warned that reception sites are suffering from severe shortages of shelters and latrines, which heightens the vulnerability of displaced people and exposes them to serious health risks. He called for urgent action to improve humanitarian conditions and prevent the collapse of essential services.
Call to End the Fighting
The UN spokesperson concluded by renewing the organization’s call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, stressing that civilians in Sudan urgently need protection and a restoration of calm so they can rebuild their lives and livelihoods.