Damazin, August 22 (Darfur24)
The Blue Nile Civil Society Initiative on Saturday called for an independent and transparent investigation into reports that humanitarian aid in Sudan’s Blue Nile region was being diverted to combatants.
In a statement, the initiative expressed concern over what it described as restrictions and harassment targeting civil society groups, the closure of aid centres and community kitchens in displacement camps, and efforts to prevent emergency rooms and local initiatives from providing humanitarian assistance.
It said allegations that aid was being diverted to combatants, including the Popular Resistance, required a transparent investigation to establish responsibility and ensure assistance reaches civilians in line with humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence and non-discrimination.
The initiative called for an immediate end to measures targeting local humanitarian groups, emergency rooms and community kitchens, as well as the reopening of aid centres and allowing volunteers to work without threats or harassment.
It said youth-led community initiatives had continued providing food, medicine and other assistance to thousands of civilians who had lost their livelihoods because of war and displacement.
The initiative warned that restricting these efforts would further worsen conditions for displaced people in camps who rely heavily on volunteer groups for food, medicine and basic services.
The Blue Nile region has experienced repeated displacement since Sudan’s war began in April 2023, placing additional pressure on host communities, food and water supplies, and basic services.