Sudan to open new cross-border corridor for aid delivery to South Sudan

The Sudanese government has pledged to open a new corridor to South Sudan for swift delivery of humanitarian aid to the famine-hit neighbouring country.

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary Abdel-Ghani al-Nai’m said on Sunday in a press release cited by local media Sudan Tribune that the government agreed to open the new corridor to grant access to the 7.5 million people affected by the crisis.

The United Nations welcomed the decision in a statement saying it will not only allow for the timely delivery of food aid but help reduce the cost of aid delivery by air.

“By opening this cross-border corridor, the Government of Sudan is showing its commitment to the people of South Sudan and further strengthening cooperation with the international community to pull South Sudan back from a widening famine that could affect another 1 million people,” the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Marta Ruedas said.

The U.N. humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien clearly stated after a visit that the famine in South Sudan is man-made due to the three-year civil war in the world’s newest country which is facing a worse situation.

Despite support offered by international aid agencies, some government officials are accused of blocking agencies from delivering food aid to some parts of the country.

President Salva Kiir promised last month to grant access to major NGOs that will provide food assistance to the hunger-stricken civilians. But, they in-turn hiked work permit fees 100-fold for foreign aid workers to $10,000 dollars from $100.