KHARTOUM – The United Nations called for the immediate and unconditional release of all humanitarian workers detained by non-state armed groups in Sudan, warning that their continued detention puts aid workers at risk and disrupts relief operations as millions of civilians remain in urgent need of assistance.
Denise Brown, the U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, said in a statement on Sunday that the detention of humanitarian personnel by armed groups was unacceptable.
“A growing number of humanitarian workers are being held without explanation or regard for their rights,” Brown said, warning that such practices endanger lives and directly undermine critical aid operations.
She called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained aid workers and urged all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, protect humanitarian personnel, supplies and equipment, and allow aid organizations to operate safely and independently.
The U.N. statement comes as Sudan’s humanitarian crisis continues to worsen after more than three years of war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Millions of people have been displaced, while hunger, disease outbreaks and the collapse of basic services have left large parts of the country dependent on humanitarian assistance.
Aid workers in Sudan face growing risks, including detention, attacks, looting, movement restrictions and interference by armed groups. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that insecurity and administrative obstacles are delaying or blocking aid deliveries to communities in Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum, Blue Nile and other conflict-affected areas.
The call also follows recent reports of humanitarian workers being detained in South Kordofan, where local rights groups said personnel from relief organizations were taken by security forces affiliated with the SPLM-North in areas under the movement’s control. Sudan Now could not independently verify the full circumstances of those detentions.
Brown said protecting humanitarian workers is essential to ensuring that aid reaches civilians in need, particularly in areas where communities are already facing displacement, food shortages, limited medical care and disrupted communications.
