The United Nations holds its first meeting in Khartoum since the outbreak of war.

November 25, 2025 (pen) The United Nations team in Sudan held its first meeting in Khartoum on Monday since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, in a move that the international organization considered “important” and an indication of strengthening humanitarian coordination and the gradual return of the UN presence to the capital.

United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric told the daily press briefing that the UN team met under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown, stressing that the meeting represented a “gradual return” of the organization after its agencies had been forced to continue their operations from Port Sudan since the start of the conflict.

Dujarric noted that the 28 UN agencies, funds and programs have maintained their humanitarian presence from outside the capital, but stressed that resuming meetings in Khartoum is “an important step towards strengthening coordination on the ground.”

In contrast, the UN spokesperson noted that the humanitarian situation remains dire, especially for displaced people, indicating that the UNHCR and its partners continue to respond to displacements from El Fasher and Kordofan.

Dujarric explained that UN teams are conducting on-the-ground protection monitoring in the Tawila area of North Darfur and Ad-Dabba in the Northern State, with the aim of identifying urgent needs and referring cases of survivors of sexual violence, unaccompanied children, and others who need specialized support.

He added that urgent priorities include psychosocial support, family tracking and reunification, food and non-food assistance, and issuing identity documents, noting that many of these items are lost by displaced people during their escape.

On the other side of the border, Dujarric said that infrastructure development work is continuing in the refugee camps in Chad, but they still suffer from a severe shortage of shelters and toilets, which increases the fragility of the situation and calls for urgent action to ensure decent conditions for the displaced.

The UN spokesperson reiterated the call for a cessation of hostilities, stressing that a ceasefire is “essential” to enable civilians to obtain “the protection and relief they so desperately need.”