All this, while the convoys of aid remain prevented from reaching hundreds of thousands of traps near the front lines and as military government and their rival militias for rapid support (RSF) are fighting for the control of Sudan.
Speaking of Tawila, 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) from El Fasher in northern Darfur, humanitarian coordinator Denise Brown described the immense obstacles to even reach the region:
“” It took us five days, in three countries, three different planes and three days of driving. We had to go around because there are so many front lines in Sudan. It becomes very, very difficult to arrive where we have to go. »»
She called Tawila “one of the epicenters of a humanitarian disaster” And said that it now welcomes some 600,000 displaced people, which mainly fleeing the fighting in the besieged regional capital El Fasher since April.
Throughout Sudan everywhere, almost 12 million have been uprooted, making it the greatest travel crisis in the world.
Blocked help, besieged civilians
The appeal of Ms. Brown comes in the middle of the growing alarm that El Fasher, the last big city of Darfur still under the control of the government, could fall into the rapid support forces (RSF) after more than 500 days of siege.
Help groups warn that 260,000 civilians remain trapped without safe outing routes, because the RSF would build bearms to block movements and supplies. Mines and key routes of unploded ammunition litter, more restricting access.
Humanitarian convoys, including food and medicine, have been blocked for months. The humanitarian workers were also targeted by combatants, with at least 120 killed since the war broke out in April 2023.
“” Stop violence, stop war, let us pass,Ms. Brown said, stressing that assistance employees are ready to help but cannot move without security guarantee.
Families who fled the fighting in Zamzam and El Fasher in the north of Darfur, seek refuge in Tawila.
Hunger, illness and rape
Malnutrition, cholera and dengue are quickly spread to overcrowded travel sites.
“The supplies are limited on the market. Access to drinking water is limited. Sanitation is incredibly poor, “she warned, adding that families are faced with a” fuel situation “of illness and hunger.
She also underlined the generalized sexual violence linked to conflicts: “This includes rape, rape of gangs, sex slavery and sexual violence rising to torture. This is a major protection problem, and we have no indication of slowdown.“”
Narrowing resources
The crisis is aggravated by serious financing deficits. With only three remaining months in 2025, the humanitarian plan of Sudan $ 4.2 billion is only funded at only 25%.
“” Each meeting in which I have gone since I have been in Sudan was on a huge and sharp need and the limited responseBecause we just don’t have the resources to do more, “said Ms. Brown.
Local and international NGOs warn that global inaction aggravates the crisis.
In a joint call this week, civil society groups have called for urgent humanitarian access and the creation of evacuation corridors for civilians trapped in El Fasher, stressing that decisive action can still prevent thousands of others from being massacred.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
