UN Condemns humanitarian aid Blockade in Sudan’s North Darfur

The United Nations has condemned the obstruction of humanitarian aid in Sudan’s North Darfur, where many children are facing life-threatening malnutrition.

Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), criticized the blockade on Tuesday, highlighting the dire situation.

Malnourished children in a war-displaced persons’ camp in Darfur are at risk of death due to rationing of malnutrition treatment caused by a blockade imposed by a notorious paramilitary group.

“When famine occurs, it means we arrived too late. It means we didn’t do enough. It means we, the international community, have failed,” stated Wosornu.

Stephen Omollo, Deputy Executive Director in charge of workplace and management, confirmed that the Famine Review Committee has declared famine in the Zamzam camp near El Fasher in North Darfur.

He warned that aid agencies are being blocked from accessing significant parts of the country to deliver food and essential supplies, but these warnings have gone unheeded.

Currently, around 25.6 million people, more than half of Sudan’s population, are experiencing acute hunger.

This year’s humanitarian response plan for Sudan, amounting to $2.7 billion, is underfunded, with only $872 million received by early August, according to the UN.