Sudan Events – Follow-ups
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that it has seen images showing the misuse of aid provided by military entities, though it has not been able to verify their authenticity.
The Governor of the Darfur region, Minni Arko Minnawi, and activists posted images and videos showing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) using blankets marked with the UNHCR logo for military purposes.
In a statement, the UNHCR said it “reviewed images circulating on social media that show the misuse of tarpaulins bearing the UNHCR logo by military entities.”
The statement added, “While we cannot verify the authenticity of this content, it is important to note that the UNHCR has been subjected to theft and looting of aid supplies in various locations across Sudan.”
The UNHCR also revealed that its logo has been misused on materials sold by commercial suppliers.
The RSF faces accusations of looting humanitarian aid from the warehouses of UN agencies and humanitarian organizations in several areas, including Khartoum, Al Jazira, and Darfur.
The UNHCR expressed deep concern over the theft or diversion of aid, preventing it from reaching displaced persons and refugees in Sudan, who are facing continuous violence and famine.
It added, “The misuse of aid marked with the UNHCR logo by military entities creates negative perceptions regarding the neutrality of humanitarian assistance and endangers both operations and staff.”
The UNHCR confirmed that the misuse of aid undermines its ability to urgently provide the necessary assistance and protection for the millions of Sudanese displaced either within the country or in neighboring countries.
