Two Qatar Armed Forces aircraft carrying a cargo of medical supplies landed at Port Sudan Airport in Sudan on Saturday, as part of Qatar’s air bridge initiative aiming to alleviate the plight of the Sudanese people affected by the ongoing war.

The assistance was received by Sudan’s Federal Minister of Health Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, Governor of the Red Sea State of Sudan Mustafa Mohammed Nour, and Qatar’s Ambassador to Sudan Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sada.

Ambassador Al Sada reiterated Doha’s unwavering commitment to Sudan, reassuring continuous support and solidarity during these challenging times. He conveyed that Qatar stands firm in its stance to maintain Sudan’s security, stability, and territorial integrity.

"We witness today (Saturday) the completion of the air bridge extended by the State of Qatar to Sudan, in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, which consists of two military aircrafts loaded with medical supplies according to the needs of the Sudanese Federal Ministry of Health,” he explained.

In response, Heath Minister Ibrahim expressed gratitude for Qatar’s consistent relief efforts, particularly evident amidst the recent waves of displacement.

"Today's shipment, consisting of 63  tons of medicines, includes essential drugs as well as blood consumables,” he said.

Echoing these sentiments, the governor of the Red Sea State lauded Qatar’s successive assistance and acknowledged its pivotal role in alleviating the suffering of those affected.

The air bridge to Sudan is expected to continue throughout Ramadan, providing the country with food, shelter tents, and ambulances.

Qatar launched the air bridge in May 2023, through which it evacuated Qatari residency holders.

On June 19, 2023, Qatar pledged $50 million to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan.

The war between army chief Abdel Fattah Burhan and his former deputy and RSF commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has plunged Sudan into "one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history", according to UN officials, who also warn it may trigger the world's largest hunger crisis. The UN's children's agency, Unicef, says that some communities in Sudan have been pushed to the brink of famine.

The conflict has also created the world's worst displacement crisis, scattering more than 8 million people internally and across Sudan's borders. Nearly 2 million people have fled into neighbouring countries to escape the fighting, putting mounting pressure on Chad and South Sudan.