Norwegian Refugee Council: 45 civilians killed in El Obeid in 3 weeks

July 7, 2026 (PEN) The Norwegian Refugee Council reported that at least 45 civilians were killed in the city of El Obeid in North Kordofan state during three weeks of June, according to the United Nations, as a result of repeated drone strikes.

This comes amid an increasing siege, worsening hunger and aid cuts, with fears of an imminent ground offensive by the Rapid Support Forces.

“Families are dying of hunger and avoiding bombing to survive,” said the council’s secretary-general, Jan Egeland, in a statement. “We warned the world about this crisis, yet it was allowed to happen.”

Egeland added that "children are going to schools without water, electricity, or food, in buildings that do not protect them from airstrikes," noting that medics have started delivering aid at night because the daytime is "more dangerous."

According to the United Nations, the airstrikes targeted markets, schools, fuel stations and water networks. An aid convoy was also attacked last week, and some areas have not received supplies for months.

The council warned that half a million people in El Obeid, including 80,000 displaced people, are facing a collapse of services.

He pointed out that families were forced to mix flour with water to feed their children, while the price of a liter of fuel became higher than a teacher's salary, and with the start of the rainy season the risk of a cholera outbreak increases.

The Norwegian Refugee Council called for urgent protection for civilians, an end to the targeting of hospitals and schools, unimpeded access for aid, and emergency funding for Kordofan.

Egeland concluded his statement by saying: "History will hold accountable not only those who committed the crimes, but also those who failed to prevent them."