Sudan: Adre border crossing situation update Flash Update No. 01 (As of 27 August 2024) [EN/AR]

HIGHLIGHTS

• On 15 August, the Transitional Sovereignty Council announced the re-opening of the Adre border crossing for three months for the delivery of humanitarian aid to address acute needs.

• 38 trucks have crossed the Adre border from Chad into Sudan carrying much-needed emergency shelter and non-food items, food, livelihood, and nutrition supplies as of 26 August.

• Altogether 1,253 metric tons of humanitarian supplies have crossed through the Adre crossing point as of 26 August, which will assist about 119,000 people in different locations.

• Following a discussion between the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council it was agreed that the UN will work with the Sudanese authorities to put in place a simplified system for the expedited processing and delivery of humanitarian assistance.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

More than 16 months into the conflict, Sudan is facing a devastating hunger catastrophe on a scale not seen since the Darfur crisis in the early 2000s. More than half of the population is facing acute hunger and in early August 2024, famine conditions were confirmed in the Zamzam IDP camp in North Darfur State. Thousands more are likely to experience similar conditions in 13 other areas at risk of famine. Access restrictions and severe funding shortfalls are impeding humanitarians’ ability to scale up response to stave off hunger and famine. The Tine border crossing – the only cross-border route available for humanitarian movements from Chad into Darfur since the Adre border crossing point was closed in February 2024 – has become largely impassable due to heavy rains and subsequent flooding. This meant limited humanitarian assistance was trickling into Darfur. Humanitarians have been relentlessly advocating for the reopening of the Adre border crossing, as it is the most effective and shortest route to deliver humanitarian assistance to Sudan at the scale and speed required, especially to Darfur.

The re-opening of the Adre border crossing announced

On 15 August, the Transitional Sovereignty Council directed the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) to re-open the Adre border crossing for three months for the delivery of humanitarian aid to areas in acute need. An official press statement plus a Note Verbale was conveyed to humanitarian organizations on 16 August via the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Permanent Mission in Geneva. However, these did not shed more light on procedures for the implementation of the decision.

In a statement on 16 August, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan welcomed the re-opening of the Adre border crossing and called on all parties to remove unnecessary bureaucratic impediments in Darfur and other areas facing acute needs, guarantee the safety and security of aid workers and assets in Al Fasher, and facilitate unimpeded aid delivery through all possible routes into and within the country, including across conflict lines as agreed in the Jeddah Declaration.