International actors have issued a stark warning that Sudan faces a growing risk of famine unless aid is delivered without obstruction, calling on the country’s combatants to stop blocking relief operations.
In a joint appeal, the United States, the European Union and 30 other countries said humanitarian access must be guaranteed and all impediments to assistance lifted so that organisations can reach populations in need. The statement underscored that timely and sustained deliveries of food, medicine and other essentials are critical to averting mass starvation.
Aid groups and foreign governments have repeatedly flagged the difficulties of operating in active conflict zones, where insecurity, bureaucratic barriers and attacks on convoys can prevent lifesaving relief from reaching civilians. The latest diplomatic intervention seeks to increase international pressure on the parties to clear routes and provide safe passage for humanitarian workers.
The appeals also serve to mobilise support from donors and partner countries, with diplomats emphasising the need for coordinated funding and logistical assistance to scale up relief efforts quickly. Officials warned that without a significant and immediate expansion of aid access, vulnerable communities could face rapidly deteriorating conditions.
While the statement did not set out new enforcement measures, it highlighted the diplomatic consensus that unrestricted humanitarian access is a minimum requirement under international humanitarian law. The group urged all parties inside Sudan, and those able to influence them, to take steps to ensure aid can be delivered where it is needed most.