Sudan rejects accusations of blocking aid
October 23, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan dismissed Western accusations on Wednesday that it hinders aid access, saying travel permits for humanitarian workers are necessary to ensure their safety in the conflict-ridden country.
The statement comes after Sudanese authorities expelled a UN delegation led by Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator Toby Harward and barred them from visiting South and East Darfur. The delegation had previously visited West Darfur.
“Claims by Western countries that we are disrupting entry visas and movement permits are baseless,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. “Over 90% of entry requests have been approved. Movement permits are in place to protect aid workers – a responsibility the government takes seriously.”
The ministry condemned accusations that the army and the government are obstructing humanitarian aid, calling them an attempt “to downplay the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) use of starvation as a weapon of war against the Sudanese people.”
Earlier this month, several Western nations, including the European Commission, the United States, and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement condemning obstacles to aid delivery in Sudan. They cited visa issuance and travel permits as examples and called on Sudan to allow humanitarian actors to operate independently and without hindrance.
The Western countries also criticized bureaucratic obstacles imposed by both the government’s Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC) and the RSF’s Sudanese Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations.
Sudan’s foreign ministry rejected the criticism, expressing regret that the HAC was being compared to “a fictitious entity affiliated with the militia that uses it as a cover for its crimes.” The ministry accused the RSF of exploiting the logos of UN agencies to commit abuses.
The ministry further defended its record, highlighting its approval of six airports and seven land crossings for aid access. It accused Western nations of focusing solely on the Adre crossing, which it claims the RSF uses to smuggle weapons and equipment.
“The joint statement ignores the dismal fulfilment of aid pledges by these same countries, even with the Adre crossing open,” the ministry added, pointing to “the spread of hunger in Sudanese refugee camps in Chad.”
Sudan maintains that the Adre crossing between Sudan and Chad is a key supply route for RSF weapons and ammunition. It agreed to open the crossing for aid for three months starting August 15 under international pressure.