Rédaction Africa Links 24 with SudanTribune
Published on 2024-03-06 22:04:44
On March 6, 2024, Al-Hadi Idris, the leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement – Transitional Council, raised concerns about the Sudanese government’s decision regarding the entry of humanitarian aid. He called on the United Nations to engage with all parties involved in the conflict, including armed movements and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to ensure that aid reaches all affected areas.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry recently informed the UN about allowing humanitarian aid to enter the country through designated sea, land, and air routes, including the Al-Tina crossing connecting Chad to North Darfur, which is a government-controlled area. However, Idris criticized the limited consultation that the UN had with what he referred to as the “Port Sudan government”. He stressed the importance of including all stakeholders, especially armed movements and the RSF, in discussions to secure aid delivery routes.
Idris emphasized the crucial role of involving all parties in agreeing on crossing points and routes from Chad to ensure that aid reaches war-affected areas. He expressed concerns that aid might end up accumulating in government-controlled areas and not reaching other regions. Idris warned against a scenario where multiple governing bodies may emerge, similar to the situation in Libya, if the issue of aid distribution is not addressed effectively.
In the past, humanitarian convoys from Chad entered Darfur under UN supervision. However, the government’s recent ban on these convoys, citing concerns about potential interference and weapon smuggling by the RSF, was met with criticism from the international community, leading to a revised approach.
Idris proposed the establishment of a high-level civilian committee, selected under UN supervision and independent of armed groups, to oversee the aid distribution process. He suggested that the committee should include representatives from various regions and cities to ensure transparency and efficiency in aid delivery. Idris also emphasized that the responsibility of securing aid convoys should lie with the army, armed movements, and RSF to prevent attacks and theft.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has left 25 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, with nearly 18 million facing critical food insecurity. The fighting has caused widespread devastation to livelihoods and severely impacted the nation’s industrial sector.
The RSF expressed their rejection of the government’s designated aid delivery routes through Port Sudan but indicated their willingness to reach an agreement that ensures transparent border-crossing aid delivery based on well-defined principles. The paramilitary force accused the army of weaponizing humanitarian aid by obstructing access to states like Darfur, Kordofan, Al-Jazirah, and Khartoum.
In conclusion, the situation regarding humanitarian aid delivery in Sudan remains complex and requires the cooperation of all parties involved to ensure that aid reaches those in need in a timely and efficient manner.
Read the original article on Sudan Tribune
