Key Developments
On 3 July 2026, the UK told the UN Human Rights Council it was deeply concerned about El Obeid, citing drone strikes on civilians, 100,000 displaced and 500,000 without basic services, and urged the Rapid Support Forces to halt attacks, according to HM Government.
Key Statistics
- £146 million in UK aid committed for the Sudan response
- 100,000 people displaced from El Obeid and surrounding areas
- 500,000 people without access to basic services in El Obeid
Main Body
On 3 July 2026, the UK used an urgent debate at the UN Human Rights Council to warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis in El Obeid, Sudan, and urged the Rapid Support Forces to stop attacks on the city. The statement cited drone strikes that harmed civilians and infrastructure, said 500,000 people had lost access to basic services and 100,000 were already displaced, and noted £146 million in UK aid to support local responders, according to HM Government.
The UK called for urgent measures to protect civilians, ensure accountability for crimes, and secure humanitarian access to El Obeid. It highlighted the need to stop indiscriminate attacks and to enable assistance and evacuations, while underlining that UK funding would help partners on the ground scale life saving support, as set out by HM Government.
The intervention followed a series of coordinated messages. On 23 June 2026, the UK and allies urged an immediate halt to the assault and adherence to international humanitarian law, according to a joint statement from HM Government. On 24 June 2026, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands and the UK condemned ongoing attacks and pressed for safe passage and humanitarian support, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said. On 26 June 2026, the UK repeated these demands at the UN Security Council, warning of atrocity risks, according to HM Government.
The UK’s stance mattered for immediate civilian protection and humanitarian access. The aligned messages across the Human Rights Council and Security Council, and with European partners, signaled sustained diplomatic pressure aimed at reducing harm to civilians, opening relief corridors, and deterring further violations in and around El Obeid, as reflected in statements by HM Government and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
