Humanitarian groups said the conflict has forced them to reroute shipments through longer and more expensive pathways, with transport costs rising sharply due to increased fuel prices and insurance premiums.

The disruption has compounded existing financial strain following reductions in U.S. foreign aid.The World Food Programme said tens of thousands of metric tons of food are currently delayed in transit.

The International Rescue Committee reported that pharmaceuticals intended for Sudan are stranded in Dubai, while hundreds of boxes of therapeutic food meant for malnourished children in Somalia remain stuck in India.

The United Nations Population Fund said it has also delayed shipments of medical equipment to 16 countries, underscoring the scale of the disruption.The United Nations described the situation as the most significant supply chain shock since the COVID-19 pandemic, with costs increasing by up to 20% as shipments are rerouted and delayed.

Aid agencies are increasingly relying on a combination of land, air and sea transport to bypass affected routes. UNICEF said it has shifted vaccine deliveries to Iran via Turkiye by air and road, adding about 10 days to delivery times and increasing costs by roughly 20%.

Save the Children said it has altered supply routes to Sudan, including overland transport through Saudi Arabia and barge crossings of the Red Sea, increasing delivery times by about 10 days and costs by approximately 25%.

The delays risk disrupting supplies to more than 90 primary health care facilities in Sudan.The Doctors Without Borders said rising fuel prices in Somalia have increased transport and food costs, limiting access to care for populations already facing severe food insecurity.Aid groups warned that the impact on global hunger could worsen significantly.

The World Food Programme said that if the conflict continues through June, an additional 45 million people could face acute hunger, adding to nearly 320 million already affected worldwide.The disruption also threatens agricultural production, with around 30% of global fertilizer supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Countries such as Sudan and Kenya rely heavily on imports from the Gulf, raising concerns about planting seasons in regions including East Africa and South Asia.

The United Nations said it has established a task force to facilitate fertilizer trade, but aid agencies cautioned that without a ceasefire and increased funding, humanitarian operations may struggle to meet rising needs.

The United States said it remains a leading contributor to global humanitarian assistance and announced an additional $50 million in emergency aid to Lebanon, including support for the World Food Programme, as it works with international partners to address the growing crisis.

The distribution is part of the Kingdom’s Food Security and Emergency Support Project. KSrelief continues to support vulnerable communities in conflict-affected regions.

Families received essential food supplies to recover from displacement. The initiative addresses hunger, poverty, and socio-economic hardship.

KSrelief focuses on migrants and displaced populations. The project strengthens resilience and social welfare in Nangarhar Province.

The initiative supports international humanitarian cooperation and regional solidarity. It ensures resources reach communities affected by conflict and instability.

Saudi Arabia’s aid highlights global humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. KSrelief promotes accountability, efficiency, and sustainability in its programs.

The project monitors the impact on community well-being and health outcomes. It provides immediate relief while supporting long-term stability.

In Sudan, KSrelief delivered food baskets to 1,050 displaced families returning from South Sudan. This forms part of the Mudad Sudan Project for 2026.

The project addresses urgent nutritional needs and emergency relief. Sudan has been affected by conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces since April 2023.

Violence is concentrated in the southern Kordofan region. The program helps families affected by displacement and economic collapse.

KSrelief’s support promotes regional stability and humanitarian diplomacy. It also reinforces sustainable development initiatives and international cooperation.

The aid program collaborates with local authorities and NGOs. Transparency and accountability are prioritized in food distribution.

By targeting vulnerable populations, the initiative prevents further humanitarian deterioration. Families receive nutrition, shelter, and basic resources.

Saudi Arabia’s efforts highlight the importance of food security programs. Emergency support and disaster relief strengthen social resilience in both Afghanistan and Sudan.

The project supports livelihood recovery and regional stability. It also promotes humanitarian values and cross-border cooperation.

KSrelief’s work reflects Saudi Arabia’s long-term commitment to global aid. The organization continues to address urgent needs for displaced populations.

Food assistance programs ensure returning migrants and displaced families survive and recover. Nutrition and emergency support remain the top priority.

The initiative strengthens community resilience in post-conflict regions. It reduces the impact of forced migration, armed conflict, and socio-economic challenges.

Through strategic interventions, KSrelief supports vulnerable families. Its programs contribute to regional peace, social welfare, and humanitarian development.

The Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts demonstrate global leadership in disaster relief. KSrelief continues to protect at-risk populations and deliver essential resources efficiently.

A new wave of optimism is sweeping across Sudan as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire proposed by the United States and Arab partners.

This development marks an important step toward restoring peace and stability in a nation that has long suffered from conflict and hardship.

The RSF’s acceptance of the ceasefire initiative signals a growing commitment to prioritize humanitarian needs and create a pathway for dialogue.

Their readiness to discuss long-term peace arrangements reflects a positive turn in Sudan’s ongoing efforts to rebuild trust and unity among its people.

The U.S., alongside Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, has been actively working to promote peace in Sudan. The proposed truce aims to allow safe humanitarian access, deliver aid to affected regions, and pave the way for a sustainable political process.

The international community has welcomed the RSF’s statement, viewing it as a step toward ending the two-and-a-half-year conflict.
The United States reaffirmed its dedication to facilitating negotiations that could help both sides find common ground.

“The RSF looks forward to implementing the agreement and beginning discussions on cessation of hostilities and the principles guiding Sudan’s political process,” the group stated. Such language reflects a renewed tone of cooperation and hope, signaling potential progress for the war-torn nation.

The ceasefire plan aligns with growing global calls for peace and stability across Africa. Neighboring countries and humanitarian organizations have expressed support for a coordinated effort to ease the suffering of civilians, especially in famine-stricken areas.

The proposed truce not only promises to reduce violence but also allows for essential aid delivery to displaced families.
Medical organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continue their tireless efforts to treat victims and provide relief in North Darfur and other regions.

U.S. officials emphasized the urgency of immediate de-escalation to prevent further loss of life and displacement. Their ongoing engagement with both parties reflects the international community’s determination to help Sudan return to peace and stability.

If implemented successfully, this ceasefire could become a foundation for a long-term peace agreement.
Such an achievement would represent a monumental shift for Sudan, offering new opportunities for reconciliation, rebuilding, and development.

Sudanese citizens, weary from years of turmoil, are expressing cautious hope that this truce may finally open a path toward healing.
Community leaders have called on all parties to honor their commitments and protect civilians at all costs.

This agreement demonstrates that diplomacy and humanitarian concern can still prevail even amid deep divisions. By prioritizing peace over conflict, Sudan’s leaders are showing the world that dialogue remains the most powerful tool for change.

International observers view the RSF’s willingness to cooperate as a signal of shifting priorities within Sudan’s leadership. The promise of accountability for past violations and protection of civilians marks a hopeful beginning for a more responsible and transparent approach.

Peace advocates around the world continue to emphasize that lasting stability in Sudan will require unity, patience, and strong international support. With continued cooperation between Sudan, the United States, and Arab nations, the potential for peace grows stronger each day.

This humanitarian ceasefire initiative represents more than a pause in fighting—it symbolizes a chance for renewal. It allows Sudan to look ahead to a future defined by compassion, dialogue, and shared purpose rather than division.

As the world watches closely, this moment may become a turning point in Sudan’s history. Through collaboration and goodwill, the dream of a peaceful and prosperous Sudan feels closer than ever before.

“Coming from a medical background, I’m naturally optimistic,” Al-Rabeeah told Arab News on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York. “With increasing acceptance of Palestine by many countries, particularly in the West, we are moving closer to achieving a durable solution.”

The High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, led to the adoption of the New York Declaration—a comprehensive roadmap outlining timebound, actionable steps to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Endorsed by the UN General Assembly with overwhelming support, the declaration provides a multi-dimensional framework covering political governance, security, humanitarian assistance, economic recovery, and legal accountability. Key measures include an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, reunification with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority (excluding Hamas), a temporary UN-led stabilization mission, and a halt to Israeli settlement expansion.

“The people of Palestine have endured immense suffering for many years,” Al-Rabeeah said. “The two-state solution remains the only viable path for long-term peace and a brighter future for Palestinians.”

Al-Rabeeah also highlighted global humanitarian challenges, ahead of a high-level UN meeting on displaced populations. With over 130 million people displaced worldwide and donor fatigue threatening aid efforts, he called for renewed international commitment.

“We face multiple crises — in Sudan, Ukraine, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond,” he noted. “This meeting is essential to highlight the urgency of resolving ongoing crises, preventing new ones, and ensuring a better future for refugees and displaced communities.”

Taha’s comment encapsulates the global concern surrounding Sudan’s military leadership. He writes, “Just when we thought Hamas might finally free the hostages, Sudan’s Islamist-run army (SAF), hijacked by the Muslim Brotherhood, proudly declared it will send weapons and troops to serve Hamas and destroy Israel.” This public commitment from Sudan’s military escalates the tensions in an already volatile region, and it signals that the country is choosing to align itself with violent extremist factions under the guise of political support.

Sudan’s army, which has long been a source of concern due to its ties with regional powers like Iran, is now facing increasing scrutiny for its actions. Taha points to Sudan’s recent history of questionable alliances, particularly its acquisition of drones from Iran and its controversial decision to hand over control of its ports to China. He describes this as the military’s disregard for Sudan’s sovereignty, labeling it as a dangerous pattern of behavior where “national sovereignty is overrated.”

The situation is made even more complex by the leadership at the helm of Sudan’s army. Omar al-Bashir and Ahmed Haroun, both indicted war criminals by the International Criminal Court (ICC), are among the key figures controlling the military and foreign ministry. Taha does not mince words when describing them: “These two clowns are not in hiding; they’re running the army and the foreign ministry, like it’s some twisted comedy.” Al-Bashir and Haroun are infamous for their roles in orchestrating genocide and contributing to the deaths of over half a million people in the Darfur conflict, a dark chapter in Sudan’s history that still looms large over the country’s future.

In a surprising twist, Sudan’s military leadership has now set its sights on the UAE, a country known for its peaceful diplomacy and efforts to promote tolerance in the Middle East. Taha contrasts Sudan’s violent approach with the UAE’s commitment to peace, noting that the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned and labeled a terrorist group in the UAE, has made increasingly aggressive statements against the Gulf nation. Taha’s scathing critique draws a comparison between Sudan’s actions and absurdities in other contexts: “It’s like watching a thief sue the bank for installing security cameras, only dumber.”

While Sudan’s military continues to align itself with extremist factions, Taha concludes with a stark reminder of the true nature of such behavior: “When terrorists dress up their violence in legalese, they’re not being clever, they’re just writing their confessions with a pen instead of a rifle.” His words highlight the false veneer of legitimacy that often accompanies violent ideologies, underscoring the need for the international community to be vigilant in identifying and confronting these threats to peace and stability.

Taha’s final message is a call for reason and peace in the face of mounting global tensions. He reminds us that “peace doesn’t shout. It builds,” encouraging a path forward based on collaboration, diplomacy, and a rejection of the violent ideologies that continue to disrupt global harmony.

As the situation in Sudan develops, the international community must pay close attention to the growing influence of extremist groups within the country and their far-reaching consequences for regional and global security.

The news agency said Sudan’s foreign ministry summoned the acting UAE Chargé d’affaires and informed her of the decision. No further details were given.

Late last month, a top Sudanese general said the UAE had been sending supplies to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the powerful paramilitary force at war with the army.

In response, a UAE official said that from the outset of the war, the UAE had “consistently called for de-escalation, a ceasefire, and the initiation of diplomatic dialogue” in Sudan.

The war began in mid-April. It has displaced more than 6.5 million people and triggered waves of ethnically driven killings in Darfur that have been blamed on the RSF and allied Arab militias.

The RSF has denied carrying out ethnic cleansing in Darfur.

The attack on Ardamata in West Darfur province earlier this month was the latest in a series of atrocities in Darfur that marked the monthslong war between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, RSF.

Sudan has been engulfed in chaos since in mid-April, when simmering tensions between military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and the commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, exploded into open warfare.

The war came 18 months after both generals removed a transitional government in a military coup. The military takeover ended Sudan’s short-lived fragile transition to democracy following a popular uprising that forced the overthrow of longtime strongman Omar al-Bashir in April 2019.

In recent weeks the RSF advanced in Darfur, taking over entire cities and towns across the sprawling region, despite the warring parties’ return to the negotiating table in Saudi Arabia late last month. The first round of talks, brokered by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, failed to establish a cease-fire.

The dayslong attack in Ardamata came after the RSF took over a military base in the town after a brief fighting on Nov. 4 with troops there, said Salah Tour, head of the Sudanese Doctor’s Union in West Darfur. He said the military withdrew from the base, adding that around two dozen wounded troops fled to Chad.

Spokespeople for the military and the RSF didn’t respond to phone calls seeking comment.

After seizing the military base, the RSF and their allied Arab militias rampaged through the town, killing non-Arabs inside their homes and torching shelters housing displaced people, Tour said.

“They violently attacked the town,” he said, adding that the RSF and their militias targeted the African Masalit tribe. “They went from house to house, killing and detaining people.”

The Darfur Bar Association, an advocacy group, accused RSF fighters of committing “all types of serious violations against defenseless civilians” in Ardamata. It cited an attack on Nov. 6 during which the RSF killed more than 50 people including a tribal leader and his family.

The UNHCR said more than 800 people have been reportedly killed and 8,000 others fled to neighboring Chad. The agency, however, said the number of people who fled was likely to be an underestimate due to challenges registering new arrivals to Chad.

The agency said about 100 shelters in the town were razed to the ground and extensive looting has taken place there, including humanitarian aid belonging to the agency.

“Twenty years ago, the world was shocked by the terrible atrocities and human rights violations in Darfur. We fear a similar dynamic might be developing,” said U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

The U.S. State Department said it was “deeply disturbed by eyewitness reports of serious human rights abuses by the RSF and affiliated militias, including killings in Ardamata and ethnic targeting of the Masalit community leaders and members.

“These horrifying actions once again highlight the RSF’s pattern of abuses in connection with their military offensives,” it said in a statement.

Ardamata is located a few kilometers (miles) north of Geneina, the provincial capital of West Darfur. The RSF and Arab militias launched attacks on Geneina, including a major assault in June that drove more of its non-Arab populations into Chad and other areas in Sudan.

The paramilitary group and its allied Arab militias were also accused by the U.N. and international rights groups of atrocities in Darfur, which was the scene of a genocidal campaign in the early 2000s. Such atrocities included rape and gang rape in Darfur, but also in the capital, Khartoum. Almost all reported cases were blamed on the RSF.

The U.N. Human Rights Office said in July a mass grave was found outside Geneina with at least 87 bodies, citing credible information. Such atrocities prompted the International Criminal Court’s prosecutor to declare that he was investigating alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the latest fighting in Darfur.

The conflict killed about 9,000 people and created “one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history,” according to the U.N. Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths. More than 6 million people were also forced out of their homes, including 1.2 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries, according to the U.N. figures.

The fighting initially centered in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, but quickly spread to other areas across the east African nation, including Darfur.

It turned the capital into a battle ground, wrecking most of civilian infrastructure, most recently the collapse of a bridge over the Nile River connecting Khartoum’s northern part with the capital’s sister city of Omdurman. Both sides traded accusations of having exploded the Shambat bridge.

The action is the latest round of sanctions imposed by Washington after war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) broke out in mid-April over plans for a political transition and the integration of the RSF into the army, four years after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a popular uprising.

“Today’s action holds accountable those who have undercut efforts to find a peaceful, democratic solution in Sudan,” the Treasury Department’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, said in a statement.

“We will continue to target actors perpetuating this conflict for personal gain.”

The Treasury said it targeted Ali Karti, the foreign minister under Bashir, who became leader of the Sudanese Islamic Movement after Bashir was toppled in 2019.

He is a prominent figure among loyalists and veterans of Bashir’s Islamist rule who have maneuvered to protect their interests and regained some leverage after a 2021 coup by the army and the RSF.

The Islamists have backed the army in its fight against the RSF, with some, including former intelligence operatives, joining the army’s ranks.

“(Karti) and other hardline Sudanese Islamists are actively obstructing efforts to reach a ceasefire to end the current war between the SAF and RSF and opposing Sudanese civilians, efforts to restore Sudan’s democratic transition,” the Treasury said.

Also hit with sanctions was GSK Advance Company, a Sudan-based company the Treasury said has been used as a procurement channel for the RSF.

GSK worked with Russia-based military supply company Aviatrade, also targeted on Thursday, to arrange the procurement of parts and supplies, as well as training, for drones previously purchased by the RSF, the Treasury said.

The RSF has long cultivated its closest foreign ties with the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a separate statement said Washington had taken steps this week to impose visa restrictions on people believed to be part of efforts to undermine Sudan’s democratic transition, including Sudanese Islamists and former officials, as well as others suppressing human rights and involved in other actions.

Thursday’s sanctions follow measures taken against the deputy leader of the RSF earlier this month and sanctions the U.S. imposed in June on companies it accused of fuelling the conflict.

The action freezes any U.S. assets of those targeted and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. Those that engage in certain transactions with them also risk being hit by sanctions.

According to the World Health Organization, 162 people suspected of having cholera were admitted to hospitals in Qadarif province and other areas along Sudan’s border with Ethiopia. Eighty cases have been confirmed, and 10 people have died of cholera, a bacterial infection linked to contaminated food or water, WHO said.

Sudan was engulfed in chaos in mid-April, when simmering tensions between the military and the powerful paramilitary group exploded into open warfare in the capital, Khartoum, and other areas across the east African nation.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders has set up two centers to treat cholera patients along with two mobile teams in Qadarif. WHO and the U.N. refugee agency have renovated the isolation center for cholera at the Qadarif Teaching Hospital, the province’s main medical facility.

Cholera outbreaks are not uncommon in impoverished Sudan. The disease left at least 700 dead and sickened about 22,000 in less two months during the country’s last major outbreak in 2017.

In Ethiopia, a cholera outbreak that started in August 2022 has sickened at least 20,000 people and caused more than 270 deaths, according to WHO. The outbreak has affected seven regions, including areas along the border with Sudan.

WHO said more than 500 suspected cases of dengue were reported across Sudan, most of them in urban centers in Qadarif. Dengue is caused by the dengue virus transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

The reported figure was “the tip of the iceberg” as the actual number is much higher, given that most of the patients rely on home remedies and often do not go to hospitals, WHO said.

The Sudanese doctors union says “hundreds” of dengue patients have died in the country’s east, describing the outbreak as “a health crisis.” It did not give a time frame for the deaths but said most hospitals in Qadarif have been overwhelmed by patients.

Heavy rains and flooding, meanwhile, have destroyed or damaged at least 13,000 houses in seven provinces across Sudan since July, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. More than 72,000 people have been affected, OCHA said.

The World Health Organization reported last month that while poverty and conflict remain enduring drivers for cholera around the world, more power storms and flooding from climate change are also fueling outbreaks.

The conflict in Sudan has turned Khartoum and other urban areas into battlefields, wrecking civilian infrastructure and an already battered health care system. Without the basics, many hospitals and medical facilities have closed doors.

At least 5,000 people have been killed and more than 12,000 others wounded, according to the United Nations, though the actual numbers are likely higher. The U.N. refugee agency said last week that more than 1,200 children under the age of 5 have died in nine camps in Sudan in the past five months because of a deadly combination of measles and malnutrition.

More than 5.2 million people have fled their homes, including more than 1 million who crossed into Sudan’s neighboring countries. Half of the country’s population — around 25 million people — needs humanitarian assistance, including about 6.3 million who are “one step away from famine,” according to U.N. humanitarian officials.

Ethiopia’s chief negotiator, Seleshi Bekele, acknowledged that constructive ideas were exchanged on various outstanding issues during the talks. He emphasized Ethiopia’s commitment to continuing the negotiations despite the lack of a breakthrough. However, Egypt’s water ministry placed blame on Ethiopia, accusing it of being “opposed to any compromise.” Egypt expressed concerns over the failure to reach an agreement, emphasizing the need to protect its water security and national interests.

Discussions surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam have been ongoing for years. The controversial $4.6 billion project, which began construction in 2011, aims to generate over 6,000 megawatts of electricity, doubling Ethiopia’s current output and potentially making it a net energy exporter. Ethiopia considers the dam vital for its development, while downstream Egypt, with a population of 100 million, fears that it will reduce its share of the Nile water, which is crucial for its water needs.

Approximately 85 percent of the Nile River’s flow originates from the Blue Nile in Ethiopia. However, under decades-old agreements dating back to the British colonial era, Egypt has received the majority of the Nile’s waters. Sudan, also downstream from the Blue Nile, has sought a deal to regulate the amount of water Ethiopia will release during significant droughts.

Negotiations recommenced in August after a long hiatus, with Ethiopia and Egypt aiming to reach a deal by November. Earlier this month, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the completion of the final phase of filling the dam’s reservoir.

During the United Nations General Assembly, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry expressed concerns about Egypt’s water scarcity issues and criticized Ethiopia for beginning construction without consulting other Nile states. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, in his UN address, asserted that the dam represents the legitimate development aspirations of Ethiopians and emphasized its potential to enhance regional integration and prosperity.

On Monday, Ethiopia’s foreign ministry acknowledged the legitimacy of concerns raised by Egypt and Sudan but underscored the need to protect Ethiopia’s rights in the matter.

The failure to reach an agreement in the latest talks raises concerns about the ongoing dispute over the GERD and highlights the pressing need for further negotiations to find a mutually acceptable resolution. The Nile River’s waters are vital for the economic and social well-being of the countries involved, and a comprehensive agreement is crucial to ensuring stability and cooperation in the region.