The World Food Program (WFP), an international organization within the UN that provides food assistance worldwide, on Thursday urged safe passage for food aid to Sudan's North Darfur and South Kordofan states.

"For the first time in months there are multiple WFP convoys of food aid heading to Zamzam in North Darfur, where famine has been confirmed, and Kadugli in South Kordofan," the WFP said on social media platform X.

"We have the food, we have the trucks, and we have the staff on board to ensure this aid gets there," it added. "Now, we need all warring parties and armed groups to allow this vital food and nutrition to arrive safely."

On Wednesday, the Sudanese government announced an extension of the opening of the Adre border crossing with Chad for three months to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the war-affected population in the country.

The government later stated on Wednesday that 28.9 million people in Sudan need humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing civil war, of whom 16.9 million are in need of life-saving humanitarian aid. About 840,000 metric tonnes of assistance will be required in the next two months.

The government closed the Adre land border crossing in February, accusing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of using it to transport weapons.