Sudan’s Warring Parties Urged to Remove Barriers to Humanitarian Aid

October 28, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

International partners have urged the parties to Sudan’s conflict to remove restrictions on humanitarian assistance and guarantee safe, rapid and unhindered access for aid organisations as 19.5 million people face acute food insecurity and the risk of famine grows.

In a joint statement released by the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management and the governments of 32 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and several European nations, the signatories called for urgent action to prevent famine and expand life-saving assistance.

An estimated 19.5 million people, equivalent to 41 percent of Sudan’s population, are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, including five million facing emergency levels, the statement said. Without immediate intervention, the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition could exceed the projected 825,000, while the number of food-insecure areas is expected to double from an initial assessment of 14.

The statement identified conflict as the main driver of the crisis, saying fighting had displaced millions of people, damaged critical infrastructure and disrupted healthcare, food production, supply chains and markets. The situation has been compounded by what the signatories described as systematic obstruction of humanitarian aid and the effects of El Niño, which has reduced rainfall and increased drought across more than half of Sudan.

The partners called on the parties to authorise humanitarian operations through all crossline and cross-border routes, including air access into Darfur, to accelerate aid deliveries and enable medical evacuations of humanitarian workers.

They also urged the parties to ease administrative restrictions affecting relief operations, including delays in visa approvals and customs clearance, and to extend visas and travel permits while removing additional permits, taxes and other bureaucratic requirements that slow aid delivery.

The statement further called for an end to strikes on civilian infrastructure, particularly agricultural and food systems essential to supplying the population, and stronger coordination between civilian and military actors to protect humanitarian workers and aid facilities.

The signatories said the parties to the conflict bore primary responsibility for alleviating the suffering of Sudanese civilians. They warned that continued restrictions on humanitarian operations would undermine efforts to respond to the growing risk of famine.

They also called on the international community to increase humanitarian funding in line with rising needs and urged development and financial institutions to adapt existing programmes to the worsening food security situation, directing resources towards the areas most affected.

The statement called for immediate support for Sudan’s winter cropping season and stronger locally led responses to help prevent famine.

The signatories expressed solidarity with Sudan’s population and humanitarian organisations delivering assistance under increasingly difficult conditions, warning that urgent action was needed to save lives.

Source: FSX Business News