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WFP Convoys heading from Port Sudan to Zamzam, Kadugli and Delling to deliver lifesaving food aid to conflict affected communities in November 2024
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DARFUR - The first World Food Programme (WFP) convoy arrived at Zamzam camp in North Darfur on Friday, marking a critical milestone since famine was declared in the region three months ago. This operation initiates a large-scale effort to deliver emergency food aid to Sudan’s most vulnerable areas as the nation teeters on the brink of widespread famine amid ongoing conflict.
Massive aid delivery underway
According to a recent WFP statement, over 700 trucks carrying 17,500 tonnes of food are en route to communities across Sudan. The shipment is expected to feed 1.5 million people for a month, targeting 14 high-risk hunger hotspots. Laurent Bukera, WFP’s Regional Director for Eastern Africa, described the operation as a lifeline, emphasizing the urgency for secure routes and sustained global support.
“More than just food, these deliveries represent survival for those trapped by war and hunger,” Bukera stated.
The convoy's arrival in Zamzam camp follows months of delays caused by intense fighting and impassable roads during the rainy season. Sudanese authorities recently extended the use of the Adré border crossing with Chad, a vital artery for humanitarian supplies, by three months. WFP has urged that all crossings remain operational to sustain the flow of aid.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlighted the strategic importance of the Adré crossing, calling it the most effective and direct route for delivering life-saving assistance at the necessary scale and speed. Since September, WFP has reached two million people monthly and aims to expand this number to over eight million by the end of the year.
Famine conditions in North Darfur
Famine conditions, classified as Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 5—the highest level of acute food insecurity—were confirmed in July at the Zamzam displacement camp. Thousands of children are suffering from life-threatening malnutrition.
Ongoing displacement amid clashes
Violent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), supported by the Sudanese Joint Force, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue to displace thousands. Around 385 families, approximately 1,925 individuals, have fled El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, to areas controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement faction led by Abdelwahid Nur (SLM-AW). Adam Rijal, spokesperson for the Displaced Persons and Refugees Camps Coordination, detailed the dire conditions:
“These families are facing severe shortages of food, shelter, clean water, sanitation, healthcare, education, and psychological support,” Rijal said.
Criticism over aid delivery in South Kordofan
In South Kordofan, Mubarak Ardol, leader of Sudan’s Forces for Freedom and Change-Democratic Bloc (FFC-DB), criticized United Nations-affiliated organizations for using airdrops to deliver food aid, calling the method inefficient.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Ardol argued that land convoys are more effective, citing scattered and damaged supplies during aerial deliveries. He called for improved coordination, suggesting Kadugli Airport as a hub for ground deliveries to famine-hit areas such as Kartala.
“The road used by UNICEF last month is now passable,” Ardol stated, advocating for the use of secure land routes.
Background on the joint force
The Sudanese Joint Force, formed in June 2022 under the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement (JPA), was initially tasked with protecting civilians in Darfur. It comprised fighters from the Sudan Liberation Movement faction led by Darfur Governor Minni Minawi (SLM-MM), the JEM faction led by Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim (JEM-GI), and other smaller rebel groups. In November 2023, the group renounced its neutrality, joining the SAF in its fight against the RSF. The force is now commonly referred to as the Joint Force of Armed Struggle Movements in Sudanese media.
Source: Dabanga
