Omar al-Bashir orders his troops to "cleanse" the South Kordofan region of rebels, just days before Sudan is due to split into two countries.

JUBA, Sudan—The U.N. said in a report Thursday that Sudan is denying it full access to tens of thousands of civilians near an area between north and south Sudan where violence continues less than 10 days before Southern Sudan becomes the world's newest nation.

When South Sudan gains independence in early July, it will have to deal with some intractable difficulties to reverse the region's poor health indicators.