Regional authorities in Darfur have reopened the Tina border crossing with Chad to accelerate humanitarian deliveries to North Darfur, where war and displacement have left communities dependent on outside assistance.
The regional aid coordination agency said the crossing reopened on Friday alongside the town’s humanitarian coordination office, Sudan Tribune reported.
Abdulbaqi Mohamed Hamed, the regional humanitarian aid coordinator and director of social welfare, said the route would support year-round deliveries to Kabkabiya, Al-Sereif, Kutum, Tina, Karnoi and Um Baru, as well as Al-Sayah and Sortony.
He said using Tina would cut transport costs and shorten the journey from Farchana in Chad to Tawila to a day or less, compared with around four days through the Adre crossing farther south.
According to Hamed, 60 aid trucks entered North Darfur through Tina during the week. Another 35 travelled through Al-Dabbah in northern Sudan, carrying supplies destined for eastern, southern and central Darfur.
The announcement follows earlier deliveries through Tina. Hamed said a convoy of 25 World Food Programme trucks passed through on August 10, while a UN refugee agency shipment carrying shelter supplies arrived on September 5. Both operations proceeded without disruption, he added.
Hamed urged UN agencies and international humanitarian organisations to expand their operations in coordination with federal authorities, citing mounting pressure on the region’s remaining health services.
Most hospitals across Darfur had stopped functioning, he said, leaving local clinics unable to cope with rising patient numbers. Poor rainfall and the displacement of farmers had also worsened food insecurity.
The regional coordination office said it was ready to work with federal and local security authorities to speed up permits and facilitate unhindered access for relief deliveries.
