WFP Trucks Enter Sudan’s Darfur Region Amid Humanitarian Crisis

Reopened Border Crossing Brings Relief Supplies to War-Torn Region

The World Food Program (WFP) has successfully reestablished aid deliveries to Sudan’s Darfur region, following the reopening of the Adre border crossing from Chad. This vital route, closed by Sudanese authorities for six months, now allows the entry of urgently needed food and nutrition supplies.

The first convoy of trucks entered Darfur on Tuesday evening, carrying provisions for approximately 13,000 people in West Darfur. The WFP has additional supplies ready to assist up to 500,000 people, underscoring the scale of the humanitarian need in the region.

WFP Director Cindy McCain emphasized the critical importance of keeping the Adre crossing operational. “We urgently need to reach every corner of Sudan with food assistance – and this requires humanitarian corridors and all border crossings to be open so aid agencies can bring in supplies every single day,” McCain said. “This is the only way to avoid widespread starvation.”

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has been exacerbated by a violent conflict that began in April 2023 between the Sudanese military and a rival paramilitary group. The U.N. estimates that more than 18,800 people have been killed and over 33,000 injured since the conflict started.

McCain praised the reopening of the Adre crossing as a crucial step in the effort to prevent famine. “I want to acknowledge all parties for taking this vital step to help WFP get lifesaving aid to millions of people in desperate need,” she added.

The Adre crossing had been closed since February, though WFP managed to send two convoys through in March and April. The closure forced the agency to use a more hazardous and lengthy route into North Darfur through the Tine crossing in Chad. The journey required navigating dangerous areas and front lines controlled by various militias, complicating the delivery of aid.

The U.N. has described Sudan’s humanitarian situation as the worst in the world. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that over 10.7 million people, including nearly half of them children, are displaced within Sudan. More than 2 million have fled as refugees to neighboring countries.

Mohamed Refaat, head of the IOM mission in Sudan, highlighted the severity of the food crisis. “Almost all people displaced across Sudan — 97% — are in areas with acute food insecurity or worse,” Refaat stated earlier this month. He warned that an estimated 25.6 million people will face severe food insecurity over the next three months as the conflict persists and coping mechanisms become exhausted.

The reopening of the Adre crossing provides a glimmer of hope for delivering much-needed aid to the millions affected by the conflict, but the ongoing challenges underscore the urgent need for continued international support and access.