UNITED NATIONS, June 26 (Xinhua) -- UN humanitarians said on Wednesday they and their partners are working to scale up assistance operations in Sudan's Darfur and Khartoum hotspots, notably in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the situation in and around El Fasher is particularly worrying.

According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), more than 400 children reportedly have been killed or maimed during the recent fighting. The continued use of explosive weapons in populated areas is posing further risks to civilians and aid workers alike.

The World Food Programme (WFP) reported that they are distributing critical emergency food and nutrition supplies to more than 135,000 people in Al-Jazirah state in the country's east-central region. It's the first time WFP supplies have reached Sudan's breadbasket since the fighting spread to the state capital of Wad Madani in December.

The WFP also reported a convoy carrying more than 2,300 metric tons of food assistance for 164,000 men, women and children crossed from Chad, heading for North and Central Darfur.

UNICEF described the situation as particularly dire for children. Some 14 million children -- more than half of the 24 million children in Sudan -- urgently need humanitarian assistance. Enditem

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