UN Welcomes Sudan’s Decision to Open Land Border with Chad
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed Sudan’s decision to open the Adré border crossing with Chad “for 3 months to allow the entry of humanitarian aid for those affected by the war in the country.”
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement yesterday, Saturday, that “the Adré crossing is the most effective route for delivering humanitarian aid to millions of people facing hunger in the Darfur region.”
Dujarric added that Guterres welcomed the decision by Sudanese authorities to open the border gate.
He noted that Guterres emphasized the importance of taking concrete and sustainable measures to ensure humanitarian aid access and protect civilians.
The spokesperson confirmed that the UN will remain committed to working with the relevant parties “to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people and contribute to ending the conflict.”
The Sudanese government had banned the entry of any shipments through the Adré crossing on July 25, citing the “exploitation of the crossing for bringing weapons to the Rapid Support Forces,” with no comment from the latter on this matter.
Five days later, on July 30, the UN called on the Sudanese authorities to open the Adré crossing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid trucks into the Darfur region (west), due to floods and heavy rains obstructing work through the Al-Tineh border crossing in the region.
Currently, the Rapid Support Forces control 4 of the 5 states in the Darfur region, while they are engaged in fierce clashes with the army in the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which is a hub for humanitarian operations for all states in the region.
Since mid-April 2023, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have been at war, resulting in approximately 18,800 deaths and nearly 10 million displaced persons and refugees, according to the UN.
Calls from the UN and the international community to end the war are growing to prevent a humanitarian disaster that is beginning to push millions towards famine and death due to food shortages caused by fighting that has spread to 13 out of 18 states.
Editorial Team.
