North Darfur Under Severe Warfare, UN Says Food Aid Warehouses Nearly Empty

JAKARTA - The UN migration agency has warned of a critical shortage of humanitarian food aid in the war-torn North Darfur region of Sudan.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that the instability in the delivery of aid supplies is making the situation even more complicated.

"Despite increasing needs, humanitarian operations are now on the brink of collapse," IOM Director-General Amy Pope said in a statement, as quoted by AFP on Wednesday, November 12.

"Food aid warehouses are nearly empty, aid convoys face significant insecurity, and access restrictions continue to prevent adequate aid delivery," she added.

The IOM said more funding is needed to alleviate delivery constraints and increase the delivery of aid to the people of North Darfur.

"Our teams are responding, but insecurity and dwindling supplies mean we are only reaching a fraction of those in need," the statement said.

The recent seizure of the North Darfur capital, El-Fasher, by the RSF paramilitary force from Sudan's regular forces killed hundreds and displaced tens of thousands.

The IOM said nearly 90,000 people have fled El-Fasher and surrounding villages, undertaking dangerous journeys along unsafe routes where they have no access to food, water or medical assistance.