Sudan Prolongs Chad Border Crossing for Humanitarian Aid

Synopsis

On February 16, 2025, Sudan's government has extended the Adre border crossing with Chad for three months to facilitate humanitarian aid to the war-torn Darfur region. This decision reflects Sudan's commitment to alleviating suffering amid ongoing conflict.

Key Takeaways

Sudan extended the Adre crossing with Chad by three months for aid.
Key route for humanitarian assistance to Darfur.
UN warns closure would hinder relief efforts.
Sudan seeks guarantees against arms smuggling.
Conflict has resulted in high death toll since April 2023.

Khartoum, Feb 18 (NationPress) The government of Sudan has announced an extension of the Adre border crossing with Chad for an additional three months, starting February 16, 2025, to aid in humanitarian operations, especially for those in the war-stricken Darfur region, as stated by the foreign ministry.

On Monday, the ministry emphasized that this extension reflects Sudan's determination to utilize every available border crossing to reduce humanitarian distress. A previous extension of three months was granted in mid-November 2024.

The Adre crossing serves as a crucial passage for humanitarian assistance to western Sudan, with UN agencies warning that closing it would critically disrupt relief efforts.

The Sudanese government has sought assurances that the crossing will not be exploited for the smuggling of arms to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and that the delivery of assistance will not be obstructed by any militias. The government has accused the RSF of utilizing this route for arms transportation.

Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in conflict between the army and the RSF. Though official statistics are lower, independent research groups suggest that the actual death toll far exceeds the 29,683 fatalities reported by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data by the end of 2024, according to the United Nations.

Previously, the United Nations launched a $6 billion humanitarian appeal to support nearly 26 million Sudanese who are affected by the ongoing conflict both within Sudan and in neighboring countries, as announced by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday.

The announcement included the 2025 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and the Regional Refugee Response Plan, which together require $6 billion to assist around 21 million individuals inside Sudan and nearly 5 million refugees in adjacent nations.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher remarked in the statement, "Sudan is facing a humanitarian crisis of alarming proportions."