The official in charge of the UN’s humanitarian activity on Monday denounced the “extreme violence” with civilian casualties in the war-torn Sudan and called for “unfettered” access by humanitarian organizations, especially to contain a cholera epidemic.

As Wednesday marks seven months since the outbreak of war between the armed forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, “nearly 25 million people in Sudan have humanitarian aid is now needed,” summarized Martin Griffiths.

But “access is a serious problem. Since mid-April we have only been able to distribute vital aid to just 4.1 million people, less than a quarter of those who need it,” he added during the first “humanitarian forum on Sudan”, which was attended by representatives of the Sudanese army and DTY.

The warring parties pledged last week, following negotiations in Saudi Arabia, to improve access to humanitarian aid and agreed that the UN should organize this forum to implement the pledge.

“What we need is safe and unhindered access to all people in need,” insisted Martin Griffiths, speaking of an “avalanche of suffering” the population was suffering.

“Women and girls are paying an extremely heavy price, with terrible risks to their safety,” as “rapes and kidnappings” are being committed, he underlined, speaking of “more than 10,000 dead” in hostilities since mid-April.

This figure is no doubt greatly underestimated.

The UN official called for access by humanitarian organizations in particular to areas affected, in addition to the war, by a cholera epidemic, above all in the capital Khartoum and the state of South Kordofan, before the situation “becomes uncontrollable”.

He estimated that this forum is crucial in order to allow the most vulnerable population to be helped in the Sudanese capital, where a bridge of strategic importance was destroyed on Saturday, as well as in Darfur and Kordofan.

Earlier yesterday, eyewitnesses told AFP of “shelling” of houses, injuring civilians – including children – in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, 350km south of Khartoum. Fierce hostilities have also been ongoing for several days in Darfur.

“Beyond access, tangible steps must be taken to implement obligations and commitments to protect civilians,” asserted Martin Griffiths.

“I am horrified by the horrifying reports of extreme violence against civilians, including attacks based on ethnic identity and cases of sexual violence. These must stop immediately,” he insisted.

Last week, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Kweta-Salami, said the violence in the African country was now reaching “absolute evil”.