Ongoing fighting in the Sudanese city of El Obeid continues to endanger civilians and damage infrastructure, the United Nations said on Wednesday, in what is becoming a depressingly predictable pattern.

Senior UN officials including the Secretary-General and human rights chief have warned that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) could launch an imminent assault on the city, capital of North Kordofan state. Because nothing says 'imminent' like a warning from the UN, which is about as effective as a screen door on a submarine.

Humanitarian partners reported that on Tuesday, a drone strike hit an empty fuel tanker parked near a school, injuring students. The incident took place close to the offices of several UN aid partners, who are probably getting used to the sound of explosions by now.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting response to the latest escalation. Teams have pre-positioned medical supplies in El Obeid, including for trauma and injury care, disease prevention and response, as well as reproductive, maternal, and child health supplies. Because in Sudan, you need to be ready for anything from a drone strike to a complicated childbirth, often in the same day.