The spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) welcomed Tuesday’s announcement that the Adre border crossing along the Chad-Sudan border will remain available through the end of June for humanitarian supplies and staff to move into Sudan.
Stephane Dujarric, who was briefing the press in New York, said Adre is a lifeline for millions of people in the Darfur region, as well as parts of Kordofan.
“Since 2024, more than 118,000 metric tons of vital aid – enough for more than 3 million people – have passed through this crossing point,” he said. “This is especially critical as our humanitarian colleagues warn that the worsening violence and displacement are pushing humanitarian needs to new levels.”
Dujarric revealed that in Blue Nile State, conflict triggered new waves of displacement in March.
“Local sources indicate that at least 4,000 people have fled into Ethiopia, while others have been displaced within Blue Nile,” he stated. “We and our partners are scaling up our response, with the Sudanese Red Crescent Society providing hot meals to newly arrived families.”
The spokesman also said that in Darfur, a new report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) highlights alarming levels of sexual violence against women and girls, both in conflict areas and in displacement sites.
“The findings point to widespread abuse, underscoring the urgent need to ensure accountability and increase medical and psychosocial support for survivors,” he added.
In North Kordofan State, measles cases are rising in displacement sites in El Obeid, the State capital, with hundreds of suspected cases reported in recent weeks.
“We and our partners are providing water, health, and nutrition services, with a vaccination campaign planned for April.
However, we are stymied by funding shortfalls, reduced water availability, new arrivals of displaced people, and delays in approvals to set up new health services,” Dujarric said. “Currently, the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which calls for $2.9 billion to reach more than 20 million people across Sudan, is just 16 per cent funded, with $461 million received so far.”
“We call on donors to step up their assistance so that life-saving aid can reach the millions of people who depend on it,” he appealed.