STORY: Sudanese gov't sends aid convoy to displaced from C. Sudan
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 6, 2024
DATELINE: Nov. 7, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:25
LOCATION: PORT SUDAN, Sudan
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of a humanitarian aid convoy for displaced people
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): SALWA ADAM BENYA, Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commissioner
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ABU BAKR ABU AL-QASIM, Sudan's acting minister of Transport

STORYLINE:

The Sudanese government on Wednesday sent a humanitarian aid convoy to three states that host thousands of people displaced from the eastern Gezira region in central Sudan due to the attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The convoy, which set off from Port Sudan in Red Sea State, carried 1,437 tons of flour, 2,000 shelter tents, 2,000 food baskets, and 1,000 blankets, aiming to support the displaced now taking refuge in Shendi area in River Nile State, Halfa Al-Jadida area in Kassala State, and Al Fao area in Gedaref State, Salwa Adam Benya, Sudan's humanitarian aid commissioner, told reporters.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): SALWA ADAM BENYA, Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commissioner
"River Nile State has 852 tons of flour and 1000 tents, Half Al-Jadida (New Halfa) has 277 tons of flour, 1,000 food baskets, 500 blankets and 250 tents, while Al Fao has 310 tons of flour, 750 tents, 1,000 food baskets and 500 blankets. These are the materials of the convoy heading to the specified areas."

There are no accurate statistics on people displaced from Gezira due to the continued wave of displacement, the commissioner added.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): ABU BAKR ABU AL-QASIM, Sudan's acting minister of Transport
"We commend the Humanitarian Aid Commission for this great effort, and also the government for this greatly appreciated effort to meet the needs resulting from what our people in eastern Gezira were exposed to. The convoys will continue and we will be side by side with our brothers in the commission."

In its latest update on Tuesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said about 135,400 people were displaced from various locations in Gezira State following a wave of armed violence and attacks on over 30 villages and towns since Oct. 20.

However, the Gezira Conference, a local non-governmental group, reported that about 500,000 people in Gezira have been displaced to neighboring states.

Sudan has been ravaged by a deadly conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has killed over 24,850 people and displaced millions of others, according to the latest estimates from international organizations.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Port Sudan, Sudan.
(XHTV)