El Fasher, December 27(Darfur24)
The Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) announced on Saturday that a UN assessment mission had arrived in El Fasher the capital of North Darfur State, and toured displacement sites, vital facilities, and the offices of UN agencies.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Denise Brown, reported on Friday the arrival of an assessment mission in El Fasher, marking the first mission by UN staff to the city after months of intense fighting, siege, and widespread violations against civilians and humanitarian workers.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in a statement obtained by Darfur24, announced the success of a field visit by a high-level delegation from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Department of Safety and Security to El Fasher.
The statement indicated that the delegation, during its tour, assessed the conditions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their humanitarian needs, reviewed the level of services provided to them, and listened to firsthand accounts from IDPs in shelters.
The statement added that the delegation visited displacement sites, UN offices, and vital facilities in El Fasher, including the Zain al-Abidin IDP Center, the Sheikh Ahmed Hanfi Center, the Saudi Hospital, the World Health Organization (WHO) office, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) office, the World Food Programme (WFP) office, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office, and the central market.
The statement noted that the visit’s success was demonstrated by the high level of security provided to UN personnel before, during, and after the visit, ensuring the delegation’s safe arrival in Tawila locality.
This is the first international assessment mission to reach El Fasher since the Rapid Support Forces captured the city on October 26.
For its part, US Presidential Advisor Massad Boulos welcomed the arrival of the UN assessment mission in El Fasher, following months of negotiations facilitated by the United States and thanks to the extensive efforts of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Boulos said he looked forward to the regular arrival of aid convoys in El Fasher after the devastating siege, calling for unimpeded aid delivery of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Sudan and building on this progress to secure a nationwide humanitarian truce.
He stated that he continues to urge both sides of the conflict to accept and implement this truce immediately and without preconditions.