After 65 days of fierce clashes between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces, military sources report that the army has recaptured the neighbourhoods surrounding the 22nd Infantry Division in Babanusa City, West Kordofan State, military sources stated.

According to the Sudan News website, the areas where the clashes occurred are now mostly deserted, following over 65 days of continuous attacks by the Rapid Support Forces on the military base in Babanusa.

The confrontations between the army and the Rapid Support Forces have triggered a wave of displacement among civilians toward nearby towns and villages.

An official from the Babanusa Emergency Room highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in shelters located in the conflict-affected areas, noting cases of malnutrition among children and reported deaths of newborns.

Al-Burhan says victory imminent

He stressed the urgent need for food aid to reach the affected areas in West Kordofan to assist those impacted by the conflict in the shelter centers, stating that no coordination efforts had been communicated regarding this matter.

The West Kordofan State government refuted reports of infant fatalities in the shelter centres, attributing some cases to "diarrheal diseases" that have since been contained.

Sudanese Army Chief of Staff, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, asserted last Thursday, April 4, that victory celebrations would soon take place, signaling triumph over the rebellious Rapid Support Forces challenging the state's authority.

Al-Burhan reiterated his assurance that the armed forces would swiftly bring an end to the ongoing conflict, as per a statement issued by the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Furthermore, he commended the artillery officers and soldiers in Atbara, underscoring the armed forces' capability to deter any threats to the Sudanese people's resources, dignity, and sovereignty.

WFP warns of worsening hunger

The World Food Programme has confirmed that for the first time in months, critically needed supplies have entered Sudan's Darfur region as it warns that hunger in the area will worsen.

WFP's Sudan Spokesperson Leni Kinzli asserted on Friday that food distribution is now ongoing in West and Central Darfur, during a press briefing in Geneva, via video address from Nairobi.

"We are extremely concerned that unless the people of Sudan receive a constant flow of aid via all possible humanitarian corridors -- from neighboring countries and across battle lines -- the country's hunger catastrophe will only worsen," Kinzli said. 

"The temporary halt of the humanitarian corridor from Chad as well as ongoing fighting, lengthy clearance processes for humanitarian cargo, bureaucratic impediments, and security threats have made it impossible for humanitarians to operate at the scale needed to meet the hunger needs in Sudan," she continued, adding that cereal harvest was 78% below the five-year average.

"Hunger in Sudan will only increase as the lean season starts in just a few weeks. Our greatest fear is that we will see unprecedented levels of starvation and malnutrition sweep across Sudan this lean season -- and that the Darfur region will be particularly hard-hit."

She reiterated that the route through Chad was "vital if the humanitarian community stands a chance of preventing widespread starvation" in West Darfur.

Meanwhile, during the same briefing, World Health Organization Spokesperson Margaret Harris said, "Essentially, the health situation is disastrous... This is an ongoing health catastrophe.

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