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The Turkish Red Crescent is delivering 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Sudan in cooperation with the Sudan Red Crescent, aiming to ease the crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in the country.
Sudan has been facing violent clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 15, 2023, resulting in what has become the world’s largest displacement crisis.
The conflict has severely damaged infrastructure, the economy, education and health services.
International aid organizations, led by the Turkish Red Crescent, continue to work with Sudanese authorities to reach families in need.
Sudan Red Crescent Secretary-General Ahmed al-Tayyib Suleiman said the organization has played a key role in responding to urgent humanitarian needs since displacement began.
He said the Sudan Red Crescent has focused on security and emergency protection, shelter, food assistance, basic health care and other essential services, adding that in many areas it is the leading or sole provider of humanitarian aid.
Suleiman said the Sudan Red Crescent operates through 18 branches across all 18 states, supported by around 800,000 active volunteers.
Suleiman said volunteers have been mobilized to provide emergency and humanitarian services despite serious challenges, particularly security risks.
He said 33 volunteers lost their lives while carrying out their duties in camps or association buildings.
Suleiman noted that the Sudan Red Crescent, together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), launched an $80 million humanitarian appeal at the start of the conflict, but only about 30% of the funds have been secured.
He said that the organization has nevertheless continued its operations, adding that the Turkish Red Crescent has been among its key supporters.
Suleiman thanked the Turkish people for their assistance and said further support would be welcomed as Ramadan approaches.
Suleiman said the organization is in the process of moving its office from Port Sudan to Khartoum, but has lost nearly all its fixed and movable assets.
He said the main building in Khartoum was completely looted, warehouses and strategic stocks were lost, and about 70 vehicles were stolen.
He said nearly all Sudan Red Crescent offices now require urgent support and called on the international community to increase assistance.
Turkish Red Crescent Sudan Team Head Faruk Aksoy said the organization sent two humanitarian aid ships to Sudan in 2024, delivering a total of 2,111 tons of aid.
Following developments in October, when RSF forces entered El Fasher in North Darfur, Aksoy said the Turkish Red Crescent rapidly deployed a team to Port Sudan.
He said the team distributed food parcels to 500 families and provided 655 units of baby food at the Al-Affad refugee camp in Ed-Debbe, four days after arriving in the country.
Aksoy said the Turkish Red Crescent distributed 1,000 blankets to 500 families in Port Sudan and delivered 1,500 food parcels to families displaced from El Fasher and Kordofan at the Nahda camp in Atbara.
He said additional distributions are planned in the coming days, including 1,500 food parcels in Khartoum, 1,000 in El-Obeid, and 1,000 in Kosti.
Aksoy said that since November and with upcoming operations in three more states, the Turkish Red Crescent will have delivered a total of 100 tons of food aid to families in need.
Aksoy said damaged roads have created logistical challenges, sometimes delaying the transport of teams and aid for several days.
He emphasized that all operations are carried out in close cooperation with the Sudan Red Crescent, whose volunteers continue to work across all states.
Aksoy said over 25 million people in Sudan need assistance, and over 10 million have been displaced.
“As the Turkish Red Crescent, we will continue to support this humanitarian crisis as much as we can, but we believe the international community must increase its support for Sudan,” he said.
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