One year on, victim of Valencia floods found buried in mud
The body of a 56-year-old man has been found buried in mud a year after he was swept away in deadly flash floods in southeastern Spain, authorities sa...
As famine continues to ravage parts of Sudan, humanitarian workers report that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), engaged in an ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army, are tightening their grip on relief supplies.
The RSF has imposed new constraints on aid deliveries in regions under its control, exacerbating the already dire situation in territories like Darfur, where hunger is rapidly worsening.
The RSF's actions are seen as part of its effort to solidify its control in the western region while suffering military setbacks in the capital, Khartoum. As the conflict between the RSF and the army drags on, with no decisive victory in sight, the humanitarian crisis deepens. The United Nations has described the war as the world’s largest and most devastating humanitarian disaster.
According to several aid workers who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the RSF has begun to impose higher fees and demand greater oversight over operations, such as the recruitment of local staff and the provision of security. These actions mirror tactics used by army-aligned authorities, further complicating aid delivery. Since late last year, these constraints have become more pronounced, leading to arbitrary delays and rejections of travel permits for aid groups seeking access to RSF-controlled areas.
In December, the Sudan Agency for Relief and Humanitarian Operations (SARHO), an entity operating under RSF control, issued new directives requiring humanitarian organizations to register through a "cooperation agreement" and establish independent operations within RSF territory. Although SARHO agreed to temporarily suspend these measures until April, aid workers report that the restrictions persist.
These moves appear to be part of the RSF’s broader strategy to secure international legitimacy and generate funds amid its ongoing military challenges. Despite the war’s toll, the RSF still controls vast swaths of territory, including most of Darfur, where aid agencies report the highest levels of need.
The restrictions have intensified the already dire food crisis, particularly in the famine-stricken camps around al-Fashir, the army’s last holdout in Darfur, and in nearby Tawila. These camps, home to thousands of displaced people, are experiencing extreme food shortages, with residents resorting to eating leaves due to the lack of aid.
"The situation in Zamzam camp is very difficult, we are hungry and scared," said Haroun Adam, a resident of the camp. "We aren't receiving any form of aid." The RSF’s actions, which include shelling refugee camps, are further hindering relief efforts.
While the RSF denies accusations of interfering with aid operations, aid workers insist that the restrictions have had a significant impact on their ability to reach those in need. The imposition of additional fees for essential services like local staffing and transport is further compounding the problem.
Kholood Khair, a Sudan analyst, noted that the RSF’s approach is reminiscent of previous government tactics, where relief operations were manipulated for political gain. "This is a harbinger for what an RSF government will look like," she said.
The ongoing conflict and aid blockages have left hundreds of thousands of Sudanese at greater risk of starvation, with the international community struggling to address the complex political and humanitarian challenges in the country.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
Snapchat will start charging users who store more than 5GB of photos and videos in its Memories feature, prompting backlash from long-time users.
The body of a 56-year-old man has been found buried in mud a year after he was swept away in deadly flash floods in southeastern Spain, authorities said on Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Nikolai Udovichenko as his Special Representative for the delimitation and demarcation of state borders with CIS countries, including the breakaway “Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met King Charles III at Windsor Castle on 24 October, ahead of planned talks with European leaders in London.
Uzbekistan and the European Union (EU) are set to sign a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), marking a major step in bilateral relations and placing Uzbekistan among the EU’s closest partners in Central Asia.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said the United States and others must do more to push Israel to stop violating the Gaza ceasefire agreement, including the possible use of sanctions or halting arms sales.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment