The United Nations has reported a significant escalation in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to recent briefings to the UN Security Council, the conflict has intensified, particularly since the beginning of the dry season. The primary area of conflict has shifted to the Kordofan region, where the RSF has gained control over key towns and strategic oil facilities.

Recent territorial changes include the RSF’s seizure of Babanusa in West Kordofan and Heglig in South Kordofan. Heglig is a critical oil field and processing hub for South Sudanese crude oil exports. The towns of Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan are currently under siege, resulting in severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies for residents. The ongoing conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and has restricted access to humanitarian assistance for entire communities.

Health infrastructure and other essential services have been repeatedly damaged or rendered inoperable due to the fighting. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a collapse of the health system and an increased risk of disease outbreaks. According to WHO data, over 21 million people in Sudan are experiencing high levels of acute malnutrition and food insecurity. This represents approximately 45 percent of the population, placing Sudan among the top four countries globally for acute malnutrition prevalence.

The World Food Program (WFP) projects further deterioration of the situation as food stocks decrease and supply chains remain disrupted by ongoing hostilities. The WFP has requested over $660 million in emergency funding to address urgent needs, but access to affected populations is limited by both security concerns and administrative barriers.

Humanitarian organizations have called for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted access to affected areas. However, diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have not produced substantive results. The conflict, which originated from a power struggle between Sudan’s military and the RSF, has resulted in the internal displacement of millions and the movement of hundreds of thousands of refugees to neighboring countries, increasing regional instability.

Current UN assessments indicate that, without immediate international intervention and a sustained commitment to peace, the humanitarian situation in Sudan is likely to worsen. The potential for further escalation poses significant risks to both the population of Sudan and the broader region.