More than £1bn pledged for Sudan as humanitarian crisis deepens | Global development
More than £1bn (€1.15bn) was pledged for war-torn Sudan at a conference in Berlin; This eclipsed the funding target set by organizers to help alleviate the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
The financial commitments made on Wednesday will also help close a chronic humanitarian funding gap in a country devastated by three years of conflict, where two-thirds of its population – 34 million people – need aid.
German ministers had set a notional target of $1bn (£740m) to fund commitments from international donors.
Hours after hearing UN chief António Guterres call for an end to the “nightmare”, delegates pledged a total of £1.13bn.
But the possibility of peace still remains far as alwaysThere has been little progress in ceasefire talks. None of Sudan’s warring parties (the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the army) went to Berlin.
Aspect conference Sudan’s army-linked foreign ministry accused Western countries of a “colonial tutelage approach” and accused delegates of not consulting it.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Germany’s foreign ministry, many chanting slogans against the United Arab Emirates and its alleged support for the RSF.
Inside, speaking on the sidelines of the event, Massad Boulos, Donald Trump’s senior adviser on African affairs, said the United States was not a party to the war and “our only concern is humanitarian.”
Boulos added that the United States is seeking a humanitarian ceasefire that would allow aid to reach those in need and that any ceasefire must result in a permanent ceasefire.
Diplomatic efforts by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE, known as the Quad, have so far failed to make meaningful progress.
Announcing the financing commitments, German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said that the commitments provide a rare positive development in the context of shrinking aid budgets.
He said: “In a world where human resources are increasingly scarce, it is a good sign that participants have already pledged more than €1.3 billion in support. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all donors for this.”
Sudan is grappling with an alarming funding gap to tackle major humanitarian challenges.
Just 16% of the £2.1bn total so far. humanitarian needs assessment Funding was provided for Sudan this year.
Earlier, Guterres told international delegates that “credible allegations of the most serious international crimes” were consistently emerging from the conflicts.
“Women and girls have been terrorized, systematic sexual violence has prevailed, families and communities have been devastated.
“Partners must step up. But let’s be clear: Financing alone is no substitute for peace.”
Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, adding: “The foreign intervention and arms flows fueling this war must finally end.”
While Egypt is among several states that support the Sudanese military, evidence suggests that the UAE supports the RSF; a claim he denies.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, without naming any countries, called for a concerted international effort to stop the flow of arms to Sudan.
He said: “Countries from around the world are coming together in Berlin to discuss how, frankly, the international community has failed the Sudanese people.”
