UN Organization Claims Paramilitary Forces are Impeding Humanitarian Aid in Sudan
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Synopsis
A United Nations agency has accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of obstructing essential humanitarian aid delivery in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region. The agency highlights ongoing bureaucratic hurdles and calls for immediate action to ensure aid reaches those in dire need amidst a devastating conflict.
Key Takeaways
- UN agency blames RSF for obstructing aid.
- Humanitarian community faces bureaucratic hurdles.
- Urgent measures needed for aid delivery.
- Over 28 million people need assistance.
- Conflict has led to significant casualties and displacement.
Khartoum, Feb 10 (NationPress) A United Nations organization has claimed that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are obstructing the delivery of essential humanitarian assistance to those in need, particularly in the Darfur region of western Sudan.
According to a statement from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the ongoing restrictions and bureaucratic challenges imposed by the Sudanese Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO), which is affiliated with the RSF, are preventing critical aid from reaching those who desperately require it.
Despite repeated assurances from the SARHO, humanitarian organizations continue to encounter interference, obstructions, and operational limitations that violate international humanitarian law and the commitments established in the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to protect civilians in Sudan.
The OCHA urged the SARHO to take immediate and effective steps to collaborate with the humanitarian community as a whole to ensure the delivery of urgent, life-saving aid, simplify the procedures for aid convoys by removing unnecessary approvals, and cease interference in humanitarian operations, including demands for logistical support.
Furthermore, the statement emphasized that the humanitarian community in Sudan is calling on the SARHO to do everything possible to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers, resources, and operations to maintain their ability to operate without threats or coercion.
On August 13, 2023, the RSF announced the creation of the SARHO to coordinate with the international humanitarian community in Sudan concerning the delivery of humanitarian aid to areas under its control, particularly in the Darfur region, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
Previous UN reports have indicated that more than half of Sudan's population is currently experiencing acute hunger.
Official statistics reveal that 28.9 million people in Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing conflict in the country.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, leading to the loss of at least 29,683 lives and displacing over 15 million people, both internally and externally, according to the latest estimates from international organizations.
