Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS, 30 August- UN deputy chief Aminia Mohammad on Friday concluded a regional visit in Adré, Chad, called for global solidarity to tackle famine in Sudan, floods and mass displacement to ensure free-flowing aid for millions trapped in war zones and those fleeing for their lives.
Chad hosts more than 1.1 million refugees, many escaping violence in Sudan, where rival militaries have been fighting since April 2023.
The war has also triggered colossal suffering within Sudan’s borders.
“The humanitarian task that we have in Sudan has been very big,” Amina Mohammed said.
“It has been one that we have been consistently supporting the government to try to address the crisis. The suffering of the people in this country is one of the worst crises in the world today.”
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reportersin New York that Ms. Mohammed met officials in Chad and announced $5 million allocation from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund as part of a rapid response to support flood recovery efforts
Chad and Sudan have been grappling with multiple crises with the ongoing Sudanese war and recent floods affecting 960,000 people in Chad and 310,000 in Sudan, according to UN agencies.
Ms. Mohammad and local authorities in Chad discussed the complex challenges facing Chad including regional dynamics and key risks, and highlighted “the urgent need for global solidarity”, the UN Spokesperson said.
She called for “maximum solidarity and resources” to ensure the humanitarian response fulfills its mandate and supports the people of the region, urged parties “to invest more in saving lives and livelihoods”.
Ms. Mohammed observed the humanitarian corridor operation at the newly opened Adré crossing point into Sudan and engaged with refugee representatives, women, youth and community leaders, welcoming the recent opening as “a positive step” towards providing lifesaving aid in Sudan.
UN Spokesperson Mr. Dujarric said “This crossing is a vital lifeline for aid delivery to millions in Sudan and must remain open and accessible to facilitate large-scale humanitarian assistance.
The humanitarian corridor will allow UN agencies to scale up assistance to 14 areas facing famine in Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum and Al Jazirah.
Ms. Mohammad underlined the critical importance of keeping the border crossing permanently open.
The Adré crossing is the most effective and shortest route to deliver humanitarian assistance into Sudan – and particularly the Darfur region at the scale and speed required to respond to the immense hunger crisis.
“What we have to do is to match the openings of these borders with the aid that goes in, and that means resources,” she stressed “and so we need those resources, and we need them now.”
UN $2.7 billion appeal is only 41 per cent funded.
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