KHARTOUM – The Joint Force operating along the Export Road and El Obeid axis held talks with a senior delegation from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on expanding humanitarian assistance, improving access to conflict-affected communities, and strengthening civilian protection in Darfur and Kordofan.
According to the Joint Force, the meeting brought together Lt. Gen. Faisal Saleh Maalla, Chief of Staff of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) and commander of the Joint Force’s Export Road and El Obeid axis, with an ICRC delegation led by Lorenzo, the organization’s international director, and Freya, Director of Operations.
The discussions focused on improving coordination to facilitate humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the conflict in Darfur and Kordofan, including support for camps hosting displaced people in El Obeid, where humanitarian needs have grown amid continued fighting in North Kordofan.
The two sides also discussed the protection of civilians and detainees, as well as broader efforts to reduce the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in line with internationally recognized humanitarian principles.
The meeting comes as humanitarian organizations continue to warn of worsening conditions in Darfur and Kordofan, where ongoing fighting, displacement and restrictions on aid access have left millions of civilians in need of food, healthcare and emergency assistance.
The ICRC has maintained operations in Sudan throughout the conflict, providing medical supplies, supporting hospitals, assisting displaced communities, and promoting compliance with international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians, detainees and the wounded.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Faisal Saleh Maalla praised the ICRC’s humanitarian role and stressed the importance of continued coordination to ensure aid reaches those in need. The ICRC delegation reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining humanitarian operations and strengthening cooperation with relevant parties to support civilians affected by the conflict.
