**UN Human Rights Council to Hold Urgent Meeting on Sudan Crisis**
*Geneva, Switzerland – July 1, 2026* – The United Nations Human Rights Council is set to convene an urgent meeting in Geneva to discuss the deteriorating human rights situation in Sudan, particularly focusing on the city of el-Obeid in North Kordofan. This meeting comes in response to alarming reports indicating that around 500,000 civilians are at risk of large-scale atrocities amid the ongoing conflict.
The call for this urgent debate was initiated by a coalition of countries, including Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom. In their official request, the group expressed deep concerns regarding the escalating violence in Sudan and highlighted the increasing frequency of drone strikes that have devastated civilian infrastructure. These attacks have led to severe shortages of essential resources such as fuel and water, creating dire conditions for the population trapped in el-Obeid.
The situation has been exacerbated by what has been described as siege-like conditions, which have left thousands of residents cut off from basic services and humanitarian assistance. Following the debate, the coalition plans to present a draft resolution for consideration by the members of the Human Rights Council.
In a related development, the Sudan Doctors Network reported that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), engaged in conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces, have detained 20 medical professionals, including four women, since they took control of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, in October 2025. The network has called for the RSF to reveal the whereabouts of these detained individuals and to ensure that healthcare workers can perform their duties without facing violence or intimidation.
The independent medical network has documented a troubling trend of attacks against healthcare workers in North Darfur since the conflict erupted on April 15, 2023. During this period, 25 medical personnel have reportedly lost their lives, underscoring the dangerous environment in which healthcare professionals are operating.
The conflict in Sudan, now entering its fourth year, has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and has displaced more than 12 million individuals. The United Nations has characterized the situation as the worst displacement and hunger crisis currently facing the world. Recent months have seen a notable intensification of fighting in the Kordofan region and Blue Nile state, particularly following the RSF's takeover of el-Fasher, which marked a significant shift in the power dynamics within the Darfur region.
As the UN Human Rights Council prepares for this urgent meeting, the international community is closely monitoring the situation in Sudan, with hopes that meaningful action can be taken to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and protect the rights and lives of civilians caught in the conflict.