The United Nations has accused Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of blocking vital humanitarian aid to the war-torn Darfur region, which is facing a severe famine.
The RSF, which has controlled nearly all of Darfur since the conflict erupted in April 2023, has imposed persistent restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles that prevent aid from reaching those in dire need.
Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, condemned the RSF’s actions, stating that they were “preventing life-saving assistance from reaching those in desperate need.”
Famine has been declared in three regions of North Darfur, with predictions that it will spread to five more by May. Approximately seven million people in Darfur are experiencing crisis-level hunger, with widespread food insecurity affecting nearly 25 million people across Sudan.
The UN called for simplified bureaucratic procedures and an end to interference in humanitarian efforts, including demands for logistical support and involvement with select vendors.
Since the onset of the war, humanitarian workers have reported obstruction from both sides of the conflict, looting of aid, and threats against relief staff.
The ongoing conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of 12 million people, and the largest hunger crisis in the world.
