A convoy carrying food aid arrived in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, for the first time since the outbreak of the civil war in April 2023.
The country is currently experiencing “the worst hunger crisis in the world,” according to the United Nations, as a result of fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Humanitarian worker Doaa Tariq told the BBC that when trucks loaded with aid entered southern Khartoum on Thursday, “tears of laughter and joy” flowed.
Aid agencies have long complained that security threats and roadblocks – set up by warring parties – have hampered vital aid deliveries.
In order to achieve the breakthrough reached on Thursday, UN agencies and Sudanese community groups negotiated with the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
Ms Tariq, who works with the Sudanese humanitarian group Emergency Response Rooms, told the BBC: “There were tears, tears of laughter and joy, tears of great effort and exhaustion from arranging this… It was an amazing moment.”
The convoy includes 28 trucks. UNICEF – which sent five vehicles – said it was able to deliver “life-saving” food and health supplies to Al-Bashaer Hospital and other health facilities in Khartoum.
“Here in Khartoum, (we) are in dire need of this aid. We have been waiting for it and have tried many ways and methods to overcome this, but the only way to help reduce the impact of the famine in Sudan is now Khartoum that is receiving this aid,” Ms. Tariq said. “.
A few days ago, an independent group of food security experts He warned that Sudan was sliding into a “widening famine crisis.”.
The Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) of food said that about half the population – 24.6 million people – are in urgent need of food aid.
The army and the Rapid Support Forces carried out a joint coup in 2021, but the power struggle between their leaders plunged the country into civil war 20 months ago.
In May, the US special envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, said some estimates suggested up to 150,000 people had been killed in the conflict.
More than 11 million people were forced to leave their homes.
Various mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces have failed so far.
