The European Union issued a stark warning on Tuesday, emphasizing that Sudan’s humanitarian situation is “catastrophic,” and urged all parties involved in the conflict to allow unhindered humanitarian access and to resume negotiations for an immediate ceasefire.

Speaking during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Equality and Acting Commissioner for Crisis Management, said hunger, malnutrition, and disease are spreading rapidly across Sudan, while international humanitarian law is being flagrantly violated.

Lahbib said the situation in Darfur and Kordofan was “particularly shocking,” citing last month’s "horrific attacks" by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during their capture of El Fasher and Bara.

“Thousands of civilians in El Fasher have been killed on ethnic grounds, in house-to-house raids and mass detentions. People are unable to leave the city,” she said.

She added that the RSF continues to block humanitarian assistance, further shrinking humanitarian space in the country.

Sudan ‘one of the deadliest places’ for aid workers

Since fighting erupted in April 2023, over 120 humanitarian workers have been killed, making Sudan “one of the deadliest places in the world” for aid personnel, Lahbib stated.

According to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, 21 million people in Sudan are facing acute food insecurity, with bureaucratic obstacles continuing to impede relief efforts.

Lahbib recalled that EU foreign ministers last week imposed sanctions on RSF deputy commander Abdelrahim Dagalo for human rights violations, and reiterated the EU’s call for full accountability for atrocities committed during the conflict.

The commissioner stressed the importance of diplomatic engagement with key regional players. “Considering the work of Kuwait, UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the US, we have to take into account all interests and regional actors, including Türkiye,” she said.

“Sudan has become a living nightmare for its people and a humanitarian catastrophe,” Lahbib declared, emphasizing that supporting humanitarian efforts in Sudan remains a top priority for the European Commission.

Separately, the European Union and the African Union issued a joint condemnation of RSF atrocities following their takeover of El Fasher, and jointly called for an immediate end to the conflict in Sudan.

#AlMayadeen has obtained exclusive details of a high-level meeting led by #Sudan's General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, where he delivered unusually direct remarks that analysts say offered unprecedented clarity on Sudan’s position. pic.twitter.com/w7dfNMYd0h

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War ongoing, army holds its ground 

Late Monday, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the RSF, announced that his forces would immediately enter a three-month humanitarian truce, following international efforts led by US President Donald Trump to end the conflict that has pushed Sudan toward famine.

“In response to international efforts, chiefly that of His Excellency US President Donald Trump ... I announce a humanitarian ceasefire including a cessation of hostilities for three months,” Dagalo said. He added, “We hope the Quad countries will play their role in pushing the other side to engage with this step.”

The announcement comes after earlier hostilities, including drone strikes on army-held areas, despite the RSF previously agreeing to a peace plan proposed by the Quad, the United States, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, rejected the Quad’s plan, criticizing the UAE’s inclusion as a mediator, amid accusations that the Gulf state has supplied arms to the RSF. The UAE has denied these claims, insisting that its role is to end the war.

“No one in Sudan will accept the presence of these rebels or for them to be part of any solution in the future,” al-Burhan said. He also denied alleged US claims of Islamist influence in his government.

Read more: 1,700+ children battle severe malnutrition in Sudan's Tawila camp