UN delegation assesses humanitarian crisis in Sudan’s Jebel Marra area

August 2, 2024 (GOLO) – A United Nations delegation arrived in Sudan’s Jebel Marra region on Friday to assess the humanitarian situation for thousands displaced by the ongoing conflict in Darfur, the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) said.

The region, under the control of the SLM-AW, has seen a massive influx of displaced people fleeing the conflict in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

Deputy UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Toby Harward, recently visited the region, meeting with SLM-AW leaders and inspecting conditions for thousands displaced by the fighting.

According to the UN, the conflict in El Fasher has displaced at least 143,000 civilians, many of whom have sought refuge in Jebel Marra. The SLM-AW, which has been fighting the central government since 2003, extended its control in the region last year to protect those fleeing the violence.

The civilian authority in SLM-AW-controlled areas stated it had received the UN delegation and provided them with a humanitarian report detailing the dire situation in the region, where millions are now displaced and residing in camps and shelters.

The delegation, which included UN Agencies Coordinator and UNHCR Representative Muhammad Khanu, inspected shelters in Golo and met with displaced people from across Sudan.

The civilian authority called for urgent action, with a spokesperson stating the situation “has exceeded the level of famine.”

The Darfur region, largely controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, is facing severe food shortages and a potential famine due to a lack of humanitarian aid access.

Aid organizations, including UN agencies, have voiced concerns over restrictions imposed by conflicting parties and the absence of safe corridors for aid delivery, as vast swaths of the region face acute food shortages and the risk of famine.