Full Breakdown
Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as UN Limits Arms Embargo
By Drooid · · How we work
Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
Since the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023, the war has displaced more than 12.4 million people and produced an estimated death toll that ranges from 40,000 to 250,000 according to United Nations and aid agencies, while another source puts the confirmed toll at at least 59,000 deaths. Action Against Hunger’s Jan Sebastian Friedrich-Rust warned that 24.6 million Sudanese face acute food insecurity, with 825,000 children under five suffering severe acute malnutrition in 2026. The United Nations Population Fund’s Fabrizia Falcione noted that 4.2 million children, pregnant or breastfeeding women are also acutely malnourished. Extreme heat, power cuts of up to 12 hours, and localized flooding have compounded the crisis, while shortages of fertilizer (down from 450,000 to ? 50,000 metric tons) and diesel have driven up the cost of agricultural inputs and humanitarian transport.
UN Arms Embargo Extension Limited to Darfur
On December 11 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2830, extending the existing arms embargo only over Darfur and renewing the expert panel’s mandate until January 11, 2027. A U.S. proposal to broaden the embargo across Sudan was blocked by Russia and China, who argued against any “hint of broadening the restrictions.” Sudan’s permanent UN representative, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, opposed a nationwide embargo, citing the UN Charter’s guarantee of the right to self-defence.
Impact of Conflict and Climate on Food and Health
Drone strikes have become the leading cause of civilian casualties in 2026, according to researcher Hager Ali. The same analyst linked the RSF’s “scorched-earth tactics” and environmental destruction to worsening agricultural conditions. Heavy rains and drought have affected roughly half of Sudan, while disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—due to the wider Iran-Yemen conflict—has limited imports of fertilizer and diesel.
Official Statements & Responses
- U.S. Ambassador Jeff Bartos urged the council to expand the embargo, calling the current regime “over 20 years outdated.”
- Hager Ali warned that expanding the embargo to include drones would “deter potential backers” of the SAF, while noting the RSF’s reliance on illicit trafficking.
- Fabrizia Falcione highlighted the strain on Tawila displacement camp, where over 700,000 people depend on a single hospital for Caesarean sections.
- Jan Sebastian Friedrich-Rust emphasized the looming “Catastrophe” (IPC Phase 5) for several IDP camps.
Verbatim Quote
“I recently visited the displacement camp Tawila and I am still struggling to find the words to describe what I witnessed,” — Fabrizia Falcione
