The European Union announced on Monday that it had dispatched an emergency airbridge flight to deliver aid to the Darfur region in western Sudan, with further flights scheduled to continue through December and January.
In a statement, the EU Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations said the bloc “has launched an emergency airbridge to deliver assistance to Darfur.”
The statement noted that the first flight, which arrived last Friday, carried approximately 100 tons of aid from EU humanitarian reserves and partner organizations. The specific airport of landing was not disclosed, as most airports in Darfur ceased operations following the outbreak of war, except for Nyala Airport and certain dirt landing strips.
The emergency airbridge will consist of eight flights, delivering life-saving supplies to millions in need due to mass atrocities and displacement. The aid includes shelter materials, water, sanitation, hygiene supplies, and medical equipment, with the total value of the operation estimated at €3.5 million, funded by the EU humanitarian aid budget.
The EU statement highlighted that the humanitarian situation in Darfur, one of the world’s most difficult regions for aid access, has deteriorated sharply since the fall of El Fasher in North Darfur to Rapid Support Forces in late October, significantly escalating an already dire crisis. Civilians who managed to flee reported widespread violations of international humanitarian law.
