The EU launches an emergency air bridge for Darfur amid escalating humanitarian crisis.

The European Union is activating an air bridge of eight flights to transport vital aid to Darfur, where the conflict has almost completely blocked humanitarian access following the fall of the city of El Fasher.

Brussels, December 15, 2025 – The European Union has launched an emergency air bridge to Darfur to deliver essential aid to one of the most inaccessible conflict zones, after the humanitarian situation drastically deteriorated following the fall of the city of El Fasher. The first 100 tons of supplies have already been delivered, and the operation, funded with 3.5 million EUR, is part of a total support of 270 million EUR that the EU has provided to Sudan in 2025.

In brief

Eight emergency flights will transport aid to Darfur.

First delivery: 100 tons of humanitarian materials.

Funding: 3.5 million EUR from the EU humanitarian aid budget.

Context: the fall of the city of El Fasher has blocked access for aid organizations.

Civilians report serious violations of humanitarian law.

The European Union has activated a humanitarian air bridge to transport vital materials to the Darfur region, where the conflict in Sudan has generated one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world. The first 100 tons of aid were delivered on December 12, and other flights are scheduled for the rest of December and in January 2026. The operation covers shelter equipment, water, hygiene, and medical supplies, provided from the EU's humanitarian warehouses and by the organization's partners.

The situation in Darfur has significantly worsened following the fall of the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, into the hands of the Rapid Support Forces at the end of October. The fall of the city represented a major escalation of the conflict and has almost completely reduced humanitarian organizations' access to the vulnerable population. Civilians who managed to flee have reported serious violations of international humanitarian law.

The total value of the operation amounts to 3.5 million EUR, fully funded from the EU humanitarian aid budget. In 2025, the European Union directed over 270 million EUR to support the population affected by the violence in Sudan, marking the EU's most extensive humanitarian effort in Africa this year.

The EU emphasizes that safe and unhindered humanitarian access remains essential, and the Air Bridge operation is intended to compensate, as much as possible, for the severe restrictions imposed by the conflict. Additional flights will continue until January 2026.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/ue-lanseaza-un-pod-aerian-de-urgenta-pentru-darfur-pe-fondul-escaladarii-crizei-umanitare