Houthi forces’ assaults on vessels in the Red Sea are causing delays in delivering crucial aid to Sudan and increasing expenses for financially-struggling humanitarian organizations in the eastern African nation. The ongoing conflict has placed millions of people at risk of famine.
The assaults have resulted in a change of route for ships transporting aid from Asia to Port Sudan. They now have to travel around the entire continent of Africa, pass through the Mediterranean Sea, and then enter the Red Sea via the Suez Canal from the northern side. As a consequence, there are significant delays and higher expenses.
Eatizaz Yousif, the Sudan country director for the International Rescue Committee, stated that our operations have become significantly more costly. Shipments that previously arrived within one or two weeks, now take months to reach us.
Since April, there has been ongoing conflict between opposing military groups in Sudan, resulting in widespread destruction. Around 48 million people, or half of the country’s population, are in need of immediate food assistance. Additionally, approximately 8 million individuals have been displaced from their homes, creating the largest internal displacement crisis globally.
Aid groups responding to the crisis were already grappling with insecurity, crippling funding shortages and bureaucratic hurdles when the Iran-backed Houthis started attacking Red Sea ships in November, demanding an end to Israel’s Gaza offensive.
Small amounts of relief supplies are being unloaded at ports in the United Arab Emirates, transported through Saudi Arabia, and then delivered to Sudan from Jeddah. This route avoids the Yemeni coast. Additional aid is being brought in by plane from Kenya or transported across the Egyptian border.
According to Omer Sharfy, the local supply chain manager for Save the Children, sending supplies directly to Port Sudan, the main hub for aid agencies in the country, is more efficient and less expensive compared to using longer routes with more bureaucracy.
Sharfy stated that the market has been severely impacted by the Houthi issue, resulting in a severe shortage of medical consumables.
Sharfy reported that due to the closure of the Red Sea, a delivery of life-saving nutritional supplies by Save the Children was delayed and did not arrive until January, instead of the intended date of late November.
Another prominent humanitarian organization, which chose not to disclose its name due to safety concerns, reported that it is still anticipating the delivery of two shipments containing insulin and other necessary medications.
The intended recipients were meant to receive these resources in January, but they are currently held up in Dubai. The organization is now facing a hefty air-freight expense of $160,000 (£127,000) to deliver the next shipment of medication, which is significantly higher than the previous cost of $20,000 for shipping by sea.
In the western region of Darfur in Sudan, children are currently facing death due to lack of food and treatable illnesses. Humanitarian efforts are being hindered by ongoing conflict and criminal activity. There is a growing concern among aid workers that widespread starvation will occur in Sudan in the near future.
According to Kashif Shafique, the Sudan director of Relief International, the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea is making it increasingly challenging to provide assistance. He referred to the situation as “catastrophic”.
Shafique stated that there are extra expenses and time setbacks. However, given the current circumstances we are dealing with, it is crucial to take prompt action in order to transport necessary supplies.
Source: theguardian.com
