Iran Crisis Halt Aid Delivery to Sudan Refugees as Costs Double, Warns UN

Aid delivery costs to Sudan have surged by over 100%, according to a recent report from the UN refugee agency. The surge is attributed to disruptions caused by the Iran war, which has increased transport costs and delayed aid deliveries.

The Gulf shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, are experiencing heightened insecurity, leading to port congestion and higher insurance premiums. This situation has forced aid shipments to be rerouted overland via Aqaba in Jordan or Oman for deliveries to Port Sudan.

These changes have added about 25 days to delivery times, with transport costs rising from $927,000 to $1.87 million for moving relief items from Dubai to Sudan and neighboring Chad.

The situation is further exacerbated by funding constraints at the UNHCR, which has only received 23% of its $8.5 billion appeal. This leaves less money available for direct aid on the ground or support for displaced people.