Wed May 28 17:00:06 UTC 2025: ## Sudan’s New Aid Regulations Spark Fears of Crackdown and Worsening Hunger Crisis
**Khartoum, Sudan** – New regulations imposed by Sudan’s army-backed government are raising concerns among aid workers and activists who fear a crackdown on local relief efforts and a further deterioration of the country’s already dire hunger crisis. The directive, announced by Khartoum state, requires all relief initiatives to register with the Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), a government body with a history of restricting aid operations, sparking fears of interference and potential arrests.
The Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs), grassroots committees that have been instrumental in providing food, shelter, and rescue services since the outbreak of civil war in April 2023, are particularly concerned. Registration involves a fee and the submission of volunteer names, raising suspicions that the HAC aims to monitor, co-opt, and potentially profit from their activities.
“HAC is trying to monitor and restrict the work of ERRs by forcing us to register, … and I fear they will arrest volunteers if we keep working but don’t register,” said a local volunteer.
Critics argue that the HAC, previously used by former leader Omar al-Bashir to control aid organizations, could use registration to politicize aid distribution, empowering army-backed committees and potentially restricting access to communities under the control of rival factions. There are also fears that volunteer names could be passed on to intelligence branches, leading to harassment and arrest.
The potential consequences are devastating, as millions of Sudanese rely on ERRs for their daily survival. Experts warn that any disruption to their work could push the country towards famine.
The UN’s humanitarian coordination office (OCHA) is aware of the situation and in contact with the ERRs, but it remains unclear whether they will continue to support organizations that refuse to register with the HAC. The decision could have significant implications for the broader aid community in Sudan.
As ERRs deliberate their response, they are determined to find a way to continue their vital work without jeopardizing the safety of their volunteers or compromising their independence. The future of humanitarian aid in Sudan hangs in the balance.
First Piper 