El-fasher: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope warns that extreme insecurity and appalling human rights violations including mass killings and ethnic and sexual violence in El-Fasher, North Darfur, have triggered a dramatic surge in displacement and further worsened the humanitarian crisis.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Pope issued a statement in Geneva warning that without safe access and urgent funding, humanitarian operations risk grinding to a halt at the very moment communities need support the most. She reported that heavy shelling and ground assaults in and around El-Fasher have displaced nearly 90,000 people in the past two weeks. These individuals are being forced to flee through unsafe routes with almost no access to food, water, or medical assistance, while tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped inside the city, surviving in famine-like conditions.
Pope highlighted that violence was spreading in other regions of Sudan, stressing that between October 26 and November 9, an estimated 38,990 people fled fighting in North Kordofan. Many of these individuals are traveling long distances on foot or on donkey carts without shelter and food, while facing constant fear of attack.
She warned that despite the rising need, humanitarian operations are now on the brink of collapse. "Warehouses are nearly empty, aid convoys face significant insecurity, and access restrictions continue to prevent the delivery of sufficient aid," Pope stated. She urged donors, partners, and the international community to act now to prevent further loss of life and ensure that vulnerable communities can safely access assistance.