The convoy delivered 430 tons of agricultural seeds provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization to be distributed to farmers across the state by the Ministry of Agriculture, according to Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres.

Further humanitarian access is urgently required so that all agricultural areas in Darfur can benefit from the provision of seeds.

All parties must also provide farmers access to agricultural lands and ensure their protection as they plant and harvest their crops.

A failed agricultural season would have further devastating consequences on all communities in Darfur.

Past week, the UN representative in Sudan, Volker Perthes, expressed his deep concern about the impact of clashes between the army and paramilitaries in the Darfur region.

At the same time, he urged the resumption of peace talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah and an end to military operations.

According to Sudanese medical sources, the death toll from the war exceeded 1,100. pll/rgh/ebr