STORY: Sudan's war reached the grim milestone of 1,000 days on Friday (January 9), with U.N. aid officials warning of a "staggering" scale of civilian suffering.

"Nearly 34 million people need humanitarian support, and the scale of suffering is staggering," said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). He described fierce fighting across Kordofan, with sieges "cutting off the towns of Kadugli and Dilling, restricting food, healthcare and access to farms and markets."

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said "more than five million children have been forced from their homes, the equivalent of 5,000 children displaced every single day since this conflict began."

Laerke issued an "urgent" appeal for "an immediate cessation of hostilities and real steps towards a lasting peace," along with full respect for international humanitarian law and protection of civilians and aid workers.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 9, 2026) (UNTV - Access all)

1. BRIEFING IN PROGRESS

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) SPOKESPERSON, JENS LAERKE, SAYING:

“Today, the 9th of January 2026, marks 1,000 days since the start of the war in Sudan; 1,000 days of civilians paying the price for a war they did not choose. Nearly 34 million people need humanitarian support, and the scale of suffering is staggering.”

3. BRIEFING IN PROGRESS

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) SPOKESPERSON, JENS LAERKE, SAYING:

“Fighting continues across multiple fronts in Kordofan, sieges have cut off the towns of Kadugli and Dilling, restricting food, healthcare and access to farms and markets. In Darfur, fighting on the ground and drone attacks from the sky continue and we have seen long-range strikes on civilian infrastructure far beyond the front lines.”

5. CAMERA PERSON DURING BRIEFING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF) SPOKESPERSON, RICARDO PIRES, SAYING:

“More than five million children have been forced from their homes. That is the equivalent of 5,000 children displaced every single day since this conflict began; many have been displaced not once, but repeatedly, with violence following them, wherever they flee. Children continue to be killed and injured. Just this week, eight children were reportedly killed in an attack in Al Obeid, North Kordofan.”

7. JOURNALIST DURING BRIEFING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF) SPOKESPERSON, RICARDO PIRES, SAYING:

“Millions of children are at risk of rape; survivors include children as young as one year old. Behind every one of these numbers is a child, frightened, hungry, sick and wondering why the world has not come to help.”

9. JOURNALIST DURING BRIEFING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS (OCHA) SPOKESPERSON, JENS LAERKE, SAYING:

“Today our call is urgent: first, an immediate cessation of hostilities and real steps towards a lasting peace. Second, adherence to international humanitarian law with access facilitated across conflict lines and protection of civilians including aid workers and civilian infrastructure.”

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (FILE) (UNTV - Access all)

11. FLAGS WAVING AT PALAIS DES NATIONS EXTERIOR

TAWILA, SUDAN (FILE - NOVEMBER 2025) (OCHA - Must on-screen credit to OCHA)

12. VARIOUS OF TAWILA CAMP FOR DISPLACED PEOPLE, MAKESHIFT SHELTERS, CHILDREN RUNNING AND WALKING WITH EMPTY FOOD BOWLS