Sudanese faction denies UN report of aid diversion in Darfur

July 12, 2025 (TAWILA) – A Sudanese armed faction on Saturday denied a United Nations report that its administration in Tawila, North Darfur, was imposing fees on humanitarian aid and local communities.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on July 8 that authorities in the Tawila locality were levying taxes, including taking a share of humanitarian assistance.

“What was attributed to us regarding the imposition of fees is completely untrue and has no basis in reality,” the civilian administration of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), led by Abdel Wahid Nur, said in a statement.

The SLM-AW described the OCHA report as “false allegations that seek to mislead public opinion” and part of a campaign aimed at undermining its credibility.

The faction took control of Tawila and other areas in North Darfur in September 2023, following the Sudanese army’s withdrawal, stating its aim was to protect civilians.

The locality hosts hundreds of thousands of displaced people living in dire conditions. A Norwegian Refugee Council assessment published on Friday found that in four camps housing 213,000 people in Tawila, 90% of families lack toilets and only 10% have regular access to water.

According to the assessment, women and children make up a significant portion of the displaced, with 39% of women in the camps being pregnant or lactating.