Tearfund’s Sudan offices have been closed since December at the request of the country’s government.

The international aid charity has been working in the Sudanese region of Darfur since 2004, providing support people affected by the conflict in the area.  

According to the charity’s annual report for 2014/15 its partners in Sudan received £565,000 in grants from Tearfund that year.

It said that does not know the reason for the closure of its offices on 14 December and that its greatest concern was its beneficiaries.

In a statement the charity said: “On 14 December 2015, Tearfund offices across Sudan were visited by government officials and asked to close until further notice.  Individual staff members, personal belongings, and organisational assets have been treated with respect. The reasons for the closure are not known at this time.

“Tearfund has a cordial working relationship with the government of Sudan at local and national levels.  We are actively seeking the government’s direction on how to proceed in order to resume our humanitarian activities.

“Tearfund project beneficiaries are our greatest concern at this time. Tearfund has been working in Darfur since 2004, and is currently delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance with a focus on nutrition, food security, water and sanitation. Tearfund is committed to reaching the most vulnerable and marginalised, selected on the basis of need alone, regardless of their race, religion or nationality.”