The Sovereign Council of Sudan has announced the reopening of the Adre border crossing with Chad for a limited period of three months, aiming to facilitate the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to the famine-threatened Darfur region. The move follows persistent calls from international aid organisations that have been struggling to reach millions of people suffering from acute food shortages.
Reports from global observers indicate that over six million individuals in Darfur are facing severe food insecurity. The situation is particularly alarming in North Darfur’s Zamzam camp, where famine conditions have been officially confirmed. The region has been devastated by the ongoing 16-month conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which controls significant portions of Darfur.
Earlier in February, the government, which is aligned with the army, had blocked aid from entering via the Adre crossing, citing concerns that the route was being exploited to smuggle weapons into RSF-held areas. The reopening of the crossing is seen as a crucial step in addressing the deepening humanitarian crisis, though it remains uncertain if aid will successfully reach all those in need.
While the temporary reopening of the Adre crossing is expected to offer some relief, aid agencies caution that continuous and unimpeded access will be essential to prevent further disaster in the conflict-ravaged region.