Today's top news: Sudan

A group of Sudanese refugees, mostly women and children, rest under a tree after crossing into the Chadian village of Koufroun on the Chad-Sudan border. 27 April 2023. UNICEF/Donaig Le Du

Sudan

Martin Griffiths

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, visited Port Sudan today to reaffirm the United Nations’ commitment to address the humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people.

While in Port Sudan, Mr. Griffiths and Volker Perthes, the Special Representative for the Secretary-General in Sudan, had calls with the Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as General Hemedti, and civil society leaders. Mr. Griffiths stressed that humanitarian aid must reach all people in need, but that we need strong guarantees on the safety and security of aid workers and supplies.

In Port Sudan, Mr. Griffiths also met with UN colleagues and national and international NGOs. The Under-Secretary-General said he is in awe of the unwavering dedication of aid workers, including local volunteers, to the people of Sudan. They told Mr. Griffiths about the challenges they face in receiving supplies and distributing aid. They discussed possible solutions on how to overcome these hurdles.

Before leaving Port Sudan, Mr. Griffiths also met the Wali – or Governor Fatehallah Alhaj Ahmed, Wali of Red State – in Port Sudan. They discussed the current situation on the ground and the most urgent needs.

Mr. Griffiths also briefed journalists from Port Sudan. He stressed that the desire, willingness, and impatience of humanitarian agencies to deliver remain as strong as ever.

Humanitarian response

The World Health Organization tells us that 80 tons of emergency medical supplies are awaiting customs clearance in Port Sudan. This includes nearly 60 tons of IV fluids, 8 tons of trauma kits and more than 12 tons of kits to treat severe acute malnutrition. Expedited customs clearance has been negotiated to ensure the quick release of these supplies.

In the coming days, the World Food Programme (WFP) plans to provide food assistance for 384,000 people who were already refugees, newly displaced people, and host communities in the states of Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala and White Nile.

In Port Sudan, WFP has at least 8,000 tons of food ready to dispatch as soon as possible.

Before the fighting broke out, the agency had more than 80,000 tons of food in Sudan. Nearly 17,000 tons have been looted - WFP is still trying to establish what quantities remain.