OCHA Reveals Obstacles by Port Sudan Government to Humanitarian Operations

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

**Arabian Sea_Reuters:** The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Sudan revealed yesterday a series of obstacles imposed by the Port Sudan government on humanitarian operations in the country. In a statement, the office explained that the Humanitarian Aid Commission, affiliated with the Port Sudan government, requires its staff to accompany the implementation of response activities in the states, even though this condition was not included in the established technical agreements, which leads to diverting scarce resources away from the most affected groups. The statement said that complex bureaucratic procedures and delays in obtaining permits hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid, amid continuing violence and attacks on relief workers. It added: "Partners must obtain multiple travel permits for entry and exit at the federal and state levels, requiring stamps from several entities, as these procedures take weeks, delaying response operations." The statement indicated that conflict-related violence and attacks on aid workers continue to pose an obstacle to humanitarian access.