News|Humanitarian CrisesEU launches aid flights to Sudan’s Darfur as humanitarian crisis escalatesRSF takeover of Darfur’s el-Fasher makes ‘catastrophic situation’ even worse. Now Kordofan at risk of same atrocities.
The European Union has initiated an airlift operation to deliver humanitarian aid to the Darfur region of Sudan, which is currently experiencing severe conflict-related challenges.
The European Union has initiated an airlift operation to deliver humanitarian aid to the Darfur region of Sudan, which is currently experiencing severe conflict-related challenges.
The Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission announced on Mon, Nov 25, 2025, that the airlift will consist of eight flights carrying essential supplies valued at 3.5 million euros ($4.1 million). These supplies include water, shelter materials, and sanitation, hygiene, and health items.
The first flight departed on Fri, Dec 1, 2025, delivering approximately 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid sourced from EU stockpiles and partner organizations. Additional flights are scheduled to continue throughout December and January, targeting areas with limited access for aid organizations.
The security situation in Darfur has significantly deteriorated, particularly following the capture of North Darfur's capital, el-Fasher, by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in late October. This event marked a substantial escalation in humanitarian needs, complicating aid delivery efforts.
The European Union has initiated an airlift operation to deliver humanitarian aid to the Darfur region of Sudan, which is currently experiencing severe conflict-related challenges.
The RSF's control of el-Fasher followed an 18-month siege, which resulted in severe shortages of food and medicine, prompting over 100,000 residents to flee, primarily to the town of Tawila.
Reports from el-Fasher indicate widespread violence and human rights violations, including mass killings and acts of sexual violence, leading to accusations of war crimes against the RSF by international observers.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in conflict due to a power struggle between the military and the RSF, affecting various regions, including the capital, Khartoum. Following the fall of el-Fasher, combat has shifted eastward toward the Kordofan region.
The RSF aims to capture key locations such as Kadugli and Dilling in South Kordofan State, and el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, which are strategically important due to their positions along the north-south axis and proximity to the national capital.
Currently, Sudan remains divided, with the military controlling the central, eastern, and northern regions, while the RSF and its affiliates hold the western and parts of the southern regions. The United Nations continues to express concern over potential escalations in the Kordofan region similar to those seen in Darfur.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
