The United Nations (UN) has sharply criticized Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for obstructing humanitarian aid to the famine-threatened Darfur region. The RSF, which has been in conflict with Sudan's regular army since April 2023, now controls nearly the entire Darfur area, a vast western region comparable in size to France.
Since May, the RSF has imposed a siege on El-Fasher in North Darfur and launched attacks on nearby displacement camps, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, stated, \"The persistent restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles\" imposed by the RSF's humanitarian agency \"are preventing life-saving assistance from reaching those in desperate need.\"
Famine has been officially declared in five areas of North Darfur, with projections indicating it could spread to five more by May, as per the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Nearly seven million people in Darfur are currently facing severe hunger conditions.
The UN has called for the simplification of bureaucratic procedures and an end to unjustified interference from the RSF, including demands for logistical support or mandatory engagement with selected vendors. Humanitarian workers have reported ongoing obstructions from both conflicting parties, instances of aid looting, and threats against relief staff since the war began.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, displaced 12 million people, and created what the UN describes as the world's largest hunger and displacement crisis. Across Sudan, nearly 25 million individuals are grappling with dire food insecurity, underscoring the urgent need for unimpeded humanitarian efforts.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
