What's happened
UN Women warns in El-Obeid that daytime drone strikes on water sources and nighttime sexual violence compromise basic water access for women and girls. The situation compounds a broader humanitarian crisis as disease, malnutrition, and funding shortfalls threaten civilians amid ongoing fighting in North Kordofan.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- UN Women reports a grim pattern of daytime drone strikes on water points and nighttime sexual violence, creating a constant risk for women and girls collecting water.
- The city’s strategic location makes it a target, deepening civilian harm as thousands remain displaced and reliant on fragile aid.
- The report flags funding shortfalls for women-led NGOs that provide protection services, compounding the humanitarian crisis.
- The update underscores how water access, safety, and health systems intersect to threaten basic dignity and survival in El-Obeid.
- Going forward, intensified fighting and funding gaps are likely to sustain or worsen humanitarian needs unless ceasefire and adequate funding are secured.
How we got here
The El-Obeid crisis sits within Sudan’s wider civil war started in 2023 between the army and RSF. North Kordofan’s capital links Khartoum with Darfur and has faced repeated drone attacks and blocking of basic services. The onslaught worsens with disease risk and a collapsing health system, while funding cuts endanger women-led protection efforts.
Our analysis
UN Women statements cited by All Africa and The New Arab; additional context from World Health Organization data on cholera and displacement in Sudan.
Go deeper
- What impact will ongoing drone activity have on water access in El-Obeid?
- How will funding shortfalls affect aid delivery for women and girls next month?
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The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity working for the empowerment of women. UN Women became operational in January 2011.