A convoy has departed Qatar for Sudan to deliver aid amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis sparked by war.
The convoy, consisting of seven trucks loaded with emergency and life-saving medicines, is part of a joint effort between the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) and the Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS).
Qatar hopes to send 70 shipping containers carrying food and medical supplies worth more than QAR 13.3 million ($3.6 million) to help at least half a million people across 12 Sudanese states, Fatima Jaber Al-Ahbabi, Acting Deputy Director General of the Development Projects Sector at QFFD, told TRT Afrika.
This shipment, which left Qatar on Monday, represents the first phase of the aid from the Gulf country, with subsequent consignments expected later.
"This cooperation represents a vital continuation of the State of Qatar’s steadfast humanitarian commitment to supporting the brotherly Sudanese people, particularly in light of the unprecedented challenges facing the health sector as a result of the war and the escalating humanitarian crisis," Fatima said.
"Qatar Fund for Development is committed to ensuring the continued delivery of life-saving medical assistance in an effective and systematic manner," she added.
Continuity of healthcare services
The aid is part of Qatar’s "humanitarian efforts and alleviating suffering in Sudan," Mohamed Bader Al-Sada, Assistant Secretary-General for Relief and International Development at the Qatar Red Crescent Society, told TRT Afrika.
"QRCS is fully prepared to implement this expanded project through its representative office in Sudan, drawing on its field experience and logistical capacities, and in close operational coordination with local authorities in Sudan," Mohamed Bader Al-Sada said.
"This cooperation aims to ensure the overland delivery of medicines from the State of Qatar to the Republic of Sudan, through designated reception points, all the way to medical supply centres and targeted health facilities, while ensuring fair and immediate distribution," he added.
The Qatar Red Crescent Society’s official expressed confidence that the aid will help in "the continuity of healthcare services, particularly in light of the current security and humanitarian challenges."
Sudan has been mired in a devastating war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since 2023, killing thousands of people and displacing millions of others.
