UN Guterres, Sudan’s al-Burhan agree to facilitate aid delivery

 August 24, 2024 (NEW YORK) – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan have agreed to facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid into Sudan, a U.N. spokesman said on Saturday.

The agreement was reached during a phone call between Guterres and al-Burhan, where they specifically discussed the movement of aid through the town of Adré.

On August 16, Sudan announced the opening of the Adre crossing on the border with Chad for three months after it was closed in February.

“It was agreed to facilitate the movement of humanitarian supplies to enter the country,” the spokesman said, in a statement released after the call.

The U.N. will also work with Sudanese authorities to establish a simplified system for faster processing and delivery of aid.

The agreement comes amid a dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan, triggered by the ongoing conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Millions have been displaced and are in urgent need of food, water, and medical supplies.

The U.N. and aid agencies have repeatedly called for unhindered access to deliver aid, but the fighting has hampered their efforts. The agreement with al-Burhan is seen as a positive step towards ensuring that much-needed aid reaches those in need.