Vatican urges protection of civilians in El Obeid, warning of siege conditions, blocked aid access, and escalating risks in Sudan’s war.
Newsroom (06/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) The Vatican has issued a stark warning about the worsening humanitarian situation in El Obeid, Sudan, where hundreds of thousands of civilians face escalating violence, severe shortages of essential supplies, and the threat of further atrocities amid the country’s ongoing civil war.
Speaking before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on July 3, Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and other international organizations, expressed “grave concern” about the rapidly deteriorating conditions in and around the city.
El Obeid, a strategic hub in Sudan’s Kordofan region, is currently home to approximately half a million people. Many of these residents have been displaced from El Fasher and other conflict-affected areas of Kordofan, placing additional strain on already limited resources.
Fears of Repeating the Tragedy of El Fasher
Archbishop Balestrero warned that El Obeid faces an “imminent risk of encirclement” as hostilities intensify around the city. Drawing attention to previous events in El Fasher, he stressed that the international community must act to prevent a similar humanitarian disaster.
“This Council is aware of what happened in El Fasher,” he said. “It is the responsibility of the international community to ensure that this tragedy is not repeated.”
The Vatican’s intervention highlights growing concerns that civilians could once again become trapped in a conflict zone with limited access to food, medical care, and humanitarian assistance.
Humanitarian Access Under Threat
A central concern raised by the Holy See is the increasing obstruction of humanitarian operations serving the region.
“My delegation is particularly concerned by the tightening obstruction of humanitarian access, and the siege-like conditions in which food, water and fuel are scarce, and essential city services are under attack,” Archbishop Balestrero told the council.
He warned that the deprivation of basic necessities is creating conditions of severe suffering for civilians and emphasized that hunger must never be used as a weapon of war.
“Starving civilians can never be a method of warfare,” he said.
The Archbishop underscored the importance of El Obeid as a critical humanitarian corridor through which relief supplies reach Darfur and large parts of Kordofan. Any disruption to this lifeline, he cautioned, would have consequences extending far beyond the city itself.
“Cutting it off would endanger far more than one city,” he stated.
International Humanitarian Law Must Be Respected
In his address, Archbishop Balestrero reiterated that international humanitarian law applies equally to all parties involved in the conflict.
He emphasized that protections for civilians, displaced persons, humanitarian workers, hospitals, and places of worship are not optional obligations but essential limits imposed by the laws of war.
“The distinction between combatants and noncombatants, and the protection owed to places of worship and hospitals, to the displaced persons, and relief workers, are not optional in war, they are its limits,” he said.
The Vatican called on all actors involved in the conflict to uphold human rights, protect civilian populations, and ensure that humanitarian organizations can operate freely and safely.
Pope Leo XIV’s Appeal for Food Security and Peace
Archbishop Balestrero also referenced recent remarks by Pope Leo XIV concerning the humanitarian consequences of armed conflict.
Quoting the pontiff, he described access to adequate food as “a fundamental human right” and noted the Pope’s warning that “conflicts are ‘fed’ more readily than people are nourished.”
The Vatican highlighted the moral urgency of ensuring food security and basic humanitarian assistance for populations affected by war, particularly in areas where aid delivery is increasingly restricted.
Despite the challenges, Archbishop Balestrero noted that the Catholic Church continues to maintain a presence on the ground, providing assistance to displaced populations through food distribution, water and sanitation services, and healthcare support.
Call for Dialogue Over Military Action
Concluding his remarks, the Vatican firmly rejected the idea that the Sudanese crisis can be resolved through military means.
“There is no military solution to the crisis in Sudan,” Archbishop Balestrero said, arguing that meaningful dialogue remains the only viable path toward peace.
Echoing Pope Leo XIV’s appeal, he urged all parties to “silence their weapons” and begin sincere negotiations without preconditions.
The Holy See called for an immediate end to any planned assault on El Obeid, the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors, and unrestricted access for relief agencies seeking to assist those affected by the conflict.
“As with other situations of this nature, it is essential that dialogue prevails,” the Archbishop said.
The Vatican’s message to the international community was clear: urgent action is needed to protect civilians in El Obeid, prevent further humanitarian suffering, and create conditions for a peaceful resolution to Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Holy See Mission
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