New York, January 14 (QNA) - The UN renewed its call for the protection of civilians in Sudan, following the killing of dozens of civilians as a result of escalating violence in a number of areas, including Darfur and Sennar.

The international organization expressed its deep concern about the continued suffering of civilians amid the escalating fighting, noting that it had received reports of at least 19 civilians killed during a ground assault in the Jarjira area in North Darfur State, in addition to the Sudan Doctors Network announcing the killing of 10 civilians and the injury of nine others as a result of a drone attack targeting the city of Sinja, the capital of Sennar State.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that more than 8,000 people were displaced from villages in the locality of Kernoi, North Darfur state, with some fleeing within the state and others crossing into Chad. 

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that a survey conducted last month, in collaboration with its partners, showed acute malnutrition levels far exceeding the 15 percent emergency threshold set by the World Health Organization (WHO), with Um Baru having the highest global acute malnutrition rate of 53 percent. 

The UN renewed its call on all parties to abide by international humanitarian law, ensure the protection of civilians, and facilitate rapid, safe, and unhindered access for humanitarian aid, urging international donors to increase urgent funding to support the humanitarian response and provide life-saving assistance. (QNA)