September 14, Tina — Humanitarian trucks were spotted heading from Sudanese town of Tina, which borders Chad, to Darfur after being held up for weeks by rain.
The Sudanese town of Tina, which borders Chad, is considered one of the most important commercial hubs and crossings through which relief convoys enter Darfur.
Haroun Khater, a civil activist, told Darfur24 that the decrease in rainfall and receding of water in the waterway separating Chad and Sudan facilitated transportation of some food and goods by donkey carts from Chad to Tina, and contributed to the decrease of the price of consumer goods.
About 30 aid trucks moved to Darfur regions in early September, but were still stuck 40 km south of Tina due to heavy rains and rough roads. Khater said there are still 70 trucks currently in Tina.
Yesterday, Dr. Bashir Kamal Eldin Hamid, Save the Children’s Health and Nutrition Director said in a statement that “Heavy downpours and widespread flooding in Sudan is compounding the suffering for families and children” and that rain is cutting off key access in Darfur.
The downpours have also worsened the displacement crisis amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Of the more than 317,000 people affected by the heavy rains and flooding, 118,000 have been displaced.