UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commended Sudan's decision to reopen the Adre border crossing with Chad for humanitarian aid to enter the war-ravaged Darfur region, his spokesperson said on Saturday.
The secretary-general commended the decision to reopen "the most direct and efficient route for humanitarian aid to reach the millions in Darfur facing record levels of acute hunger," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN chief, said in a statement.
Guterres underscored the importance of concrete and sustained measures to facilitate humanitarian access and protect civilians, in accordance with the obligations of Sudanese parties under international humanitarian law and previously agreed modalities, said Dujarric.
"Humanitarian organizations must have full, safe and unhindered access to reach all civilians in need across Darfur, and across the country as a whole," the statement said, adding that the United Nations remains fully committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to help end the conflict and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council on Thursday decided to reopen the Adre border crossing with Chad for three months to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected by the country's ongoing conflict.
Sudan has been witnessing a deadly conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023, resulting in the loss of at least 16,650 lives.
In February this year, the Sudanese government stopped the delivery of aid through Adre, accusing the RSF of using the crossing to transport weapons. ■