KHARTOUM, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's government has extended the opening of the Adre border crossing with Chad by three months, effective Feb. 16, 2025, to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries, particularly to the war-torn Darfur region, the foreign ministry said on Monday.
The ministry said the extension underscored Sudan's commitment to using all available border crossings to alleviate suffering. A previous three-month extension had been granted in mid-November 2024.
The Adre crossing is a key route for aid reaching western Sudan, and UN agencies have warned that its closure would severely hamper humanitarian efforts.
Sudan has demanded guarantees that the crossing will not be used for weapons smuggling to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and that aid deliveries will not be impeded by "militias." The government has accused the RSF of using the crossing for weapons transport.
Sudan has been gripped by conflict between the army and the RSF since mid-April 2023. While official figures are lower, research groups estimate the death toll is significantly higher than the 29,683 fatalities reported by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data by the end of 2024, as cited by the United Nations. ■
