Sudan: UN chief welcomes decision to reopen key border crossing for aid delivery
By UN News |
The development will allow WFP to scale up assistance to 14 areas facing famine in Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and Al Jazirah.
Keep reading
- More than 700 killed in siege of Sudan's al-Fashir, UN rights chief says
- Sudan's RSF fighters say they plan to work with a new government, raising partition fears
- IGAD boss Workneh Gebeyehu calls for collective action to alleviate suffering in Sudan
- RSF attacks main hospital in Sudan's al-Fashir, says health official
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has commended the decision by the Sudanese authorities to reopen a crucial corridor for aid to enter the war-ravaged country, his spokesperson said on Saturday.
The Adre border crossing with Chad has been closed for most of the year. It is the most direct and efficient route for humanitarian aid to reach millions in Sudan's Darfur region who are facing record levels of acute hunger.
Food security experts recently declared that the war between rival Sudanese militaries, which erupted in April 2023, has pushed parts of North Darfur state into famine, particularly the Zamzam camp, where more than half a million displaced people are sheltering.
Unhindered humanitarian access
“The Secretary-General underscores the importance of concrete and sustained measures to facilitate humanitarian access and protect civilians, in accordance with the obligations of Sudanese parties under international humanitarian law and previously agreed modalities,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement.
"Humanitarian organisations must have full, safe and unhindered access to reach all civilians in need across Darfur, and across the country as a whole," he added.
The statement concluded by underscoring the UN’s full commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to help end the conflict in Sudan and alleviate the suffering of the population.
Scaling up assistance
The Sudanese authorities revoked permission to use the Adre crossing back in February, making the Tine crossing the sole route for cross-border humanitarian aid delivery from Chad.
On Friday, UN agencies including the World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed the news of its reopening.
The development will allow WFP to scale up assistance to 14 areas facing famine in Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and Al Jazirah.
The aim is to support up to 8.4 million people by the end of the year.
Reader comments
Follow Us and Stay Connected!
We'd love for you to join our community and stay updated with our latest stories and updates. Follow us on our social media channels and be part of the conversation!
Let's stay connected and keep the dialogue going!