Sudan extends Chad border crossing for Darfur aid, WFP convoy heads to El Fasher
May 14, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s government on Wednesday extended the opening of a key border crossing with Chad for three months to allow humanitarian aid to reach the conflict-ravaged Darfur region, the foreign ministry said.
The Adre crossing, located in West Darfur state, which is largely under the control of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), was initially opened on Aug. 15, 2024, for three months. This marks the fourth such extension.
“The Sudanese government has decided to extend the opening of the Adre crossing for the delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to those affected by the war in the country for an additional three months, starting from May 16th until August 15th,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that the extension demonstrated the government’s commitment to facilitating relief for war-affected citizens and its “positive cooperation and engagement with the international community.”
The government has repeatedly approved the crossing’s extension despite accusing the RSF of using it to transport military and logistical support allegedly supplied by the United Arab Emirates via Chad. Reuters has not independently verified these accusations.
WFP convoy heads to El Fasher
Separately, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) said a convoy carrying food and nutritional supplies had departed from Al-Dabbah in Sudan’s Northern State en route to El Fasher in North Darfur.
The WFP said the convoy would travel over 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) and stressed the need for its safe passage, as it carries “vital aid for people facing the risk of famine.”
An estimated 79% of Darfur’s population needs humanitarian aid and protection after the conflict destroyed livelihoods and supply chains, with widespread looting reported in the region.
The RSF has been accused of blocking aid to El Fasher and surrounding displacement camps in North Darfur, where there are severe shortages of food and medicine due to a siege, ground attacks, and shelling, according to aid groups and local sources.