Sudan to reopen Adre border crossing for three months to facilitate aid delivery

Sudan’s Sovereign Council announced on Thursday that it would reopen the Adre border crossing with Chad for a period of three months, to allow crucial humanitarian aid to flow into the famine-threatened Darfur region. The decision comes after months of pleas from international aid agencies struggling to reach the millions of people facing food insecurity in the area.

Global monitors report that over 6 million people in Darfur are grappling with severe food shortages, with the situation particularly dire in North Darfur’s Zamzam camp, where famine conditions have been confirmed. The region has been heavily impacted by the ongoing 16-month conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who control much of Darfur.

In February, the army-aligned government had blocked aid deliveries through the Adre crossing, citing concerns that the route was being used to smuggle weapons into RSF-controlled territories. The reopening of the crossing is seen as a critical step in addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis, though it remains to be seen whether aid will be able to reach all those in need.

The temporary reopening of the Adre crossing is expected to alleviate some of the suffering, but aid organisations warn that sustained access will be necessary to prevent further catastrophe in the war-torn region.

READ: Sudan rebel group declares famine in territory under its control