Sudan: Relief workers sound alarm over restrictive army decree

Fears are mounting among Sudanese aid workers and humanitarian organizations following a new directive by Khartoum’s Army-backed authorities that mandates all relief initiatives to formally register with the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC).

The move has sparked widespread concern that it could serve as a precursor to a wider crackdown on grassroots emergency volunteers, particularly the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs), whose operations have been vital since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023.

With nearly 25 million people already facing severe hunger, aid actors warn that any further restriction on their work could escalate the crisis into full-blown famine.

Under the directive, issued publicly via the state’s official Facebook page, all relief bodies must not only pay a substantial registration fee—reportedly around $800—but also submit detailed information on all personnel involved. While the HAC insists this is a regulatory measure, critics argue the expanded powers, rooted in policies established under former autocrat Omar al-Bashir, are being used to monitor, intimidate, and ultimately stifle independent humanitarian action.

ERRs, which have maintained strict neutrality in the conflict and continued operating in contested zones, now fear arrest and shutdown should they refuse to comply. One volunteer, speaking anonymously to the media, described the directive as an attempt “to co-opt and control the only lifeline left for many.”

The implications of this policy shift are stark. The ERRs have been instrumental in feeding communities, rescuing the injured, and shielding civilians from violence. If volunteers feel too unsafe to carry out their work, or are deterred by legal threats and bureaucratic hurdles, entire neighborhoods could be left to starve.