South Sudan urges unimpeded aid access for Sudan’s war-torn regions

JUBA – South Sudan on Friday appealed to Sudan’s warring parties to provide unimpeded, immediate, safe humanitarian access to people in need.

Ramadan Mohammed Abdallah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, made the call during the second day of dialogue between Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N).

The discussions in Juba centered on opening humanitarian corridors amid ongoing conflict.

“We are here to talk with the Sudanese, the transitional government of Sudan and the SPLM-North for them to agree for humanitarian assistance to reach Sudan,” Mohammed told journalists.

Mohammed emphasized the moral and legal obligation of all parties to protect aid workers and facilitate aid delivery.

He acknowledged the complex nature of the conflict with multiple actors, highlighting the need for access across various controlled areas.

Unimpeded access would allow humanitarian organizations to deliver aid effectively.

“All organizations which want to send food to Sudan, they want to make sure that humanitarian assistance reaches needy people on time and also humanitarian workers need to be protected,” Mohammed said.

The focus of the talks is establishing an agreement on humanitarian access, paving the way for increased international aid.

“Other issues can be discussed later,” Mohammed added. “The only thing we want is for the parties to agree on humanitarian access.”

The April 2023 military confrontation in Sudan, involving SAF led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (SRSF) under Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, plunged the country into chaos.

The UNHCR refugee agency estimates that the war has displaced more than 4.3 million people, with over 3.2 million internally displaced.