The United Nations is grappling with mounting bureaucratic hurdles in its effort to deliver critical humanitarian aid to Sudan.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Thursday that visa delays are severely restricting access for aid workers, threatening life-saving operations across the war-torn country.
Only 16% of visa applications for humanitarian personnel were approved in March, a rate the UN warns could paralyze essential relief work if continued.
Dujarric noted that over 400,000 people have fled escalating violence, while access to vital areas like Zamzam remains entirely blocked.
The UN is urging all parties in Sudan to cease hostilities immediately and comply with international humanitarian law to protect civilians.
It is also calling for safe and unhindered passage for humanitarian workers, amid what has become one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been mired in conflict between the General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leaving thousands dead.
The UN’s plea is clear: without urgent access, more lives will be lost in the silence of red tape.
