Blue Nile Spokesperson: Urgent Intervention Needed from International Organizations

Cairo – Sudanhorizon – Sabah Moussa

The official spokesperson for the Blue Nile Region government, Saif Al-Nasr Manallah Mahmoud, stated that the humanitarian situation in the region is deteriorating significantly due to escalating military clashes between the Janjaweed militias, the SPLM-N (Al-Hilu faction), the Sudanese Armed Forces, and other armed groups. He warned that the crisis will worsen if urgent intervention does not occur.
Mahmoud explained in an exclusive statement to this news website that since the start of the clashes in Ramadan and the launch of military operations in Blue Nile State, the number of displaced people has reached approximately 73,000, most of whom are children, elderly, pregnant women, and newborns. He pointed out that these groups are in dire need of food, clothing, and medicine.
He added that the health situation is greatly stretched, especially after the influx of returnees to the region, beginning of last year. He said the IDPs numbers have exceed the region’s capacity.
He noted that the intervention of the Federal Humanitarian Aid Commission, while important, is no longer sufficient given the current numbers, which have exceeded its capacity, leading to an increased need for basic services.

The official spokesperson explained that a coordination mechanism has been established between the top executives of the provinces and the Humanitarian Aid Commission to develop measures to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation, particularly in Kurmuk province and the Baw area, which has received IDPS in recent months following militia attempts to infiltrate the western areas.
He stressed that the humanitarian situation requires urgent intervention from international organizations and the United Nations. He noted that the Commission is working to coordinate efforts with its humanitarian partners to provide necessary aid. He also pointed to local humanitarian initiatives from the community, activists, and emergency response teams to provide support to displaced persons, especially those arriving from Kurmuk.
Mahmoud indicated that the challenges increase with the onset of summer and rising temperatures, exposing the IDP population to the risks of heatstroke and disease. He emphasized that shelter and access to safe drinking water are top priorities, adding that the regional government faces significant difficulties in addressing these challenges alone.
This necessitates strengthening coordination mechanisms with the Commission, civil society, and local administrations, he explained, calling on the international community to provide the necessary support.

Regarding the field situation, Mahmoud confirmed that the Fourth Infantry Division forces were able to repel the Rapid Support Forces militia in the Sali axis, inflicting heavy losses on them in lives and equipment, noting that the Sali area is a military zone with no civilian presence there since 2011.

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