UN urges international donors to help tackle ‘death and destruction’ in Sudan

Today, Monday, in the Swiss city of Geneva, an international donors’ conference was held under the auspices of Saudi Arabia, with the aim of obtaining pledges to finance humanitarian relief operations for Sudan.

International donors pledged close to $1.5 billion in humanitarian aid to Sudan and the broader region, responding to a call by the United Nations to boost aid amid a conflict that has forced some 2.2 million people from their homes.

The Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that his country is pledging $50 million to support the emergency response plan in Sudan, noting that Qatar has delivered 118 tons of food and medicine to Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict via an air bridge.

For his part, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry announced that his country had launched a joint initiative with the State of Qatar regarding humanitarian aid in Sudan.

Shoukry stressed the need to reach a permanent ceasefire to stop the bloodshed of the Sudanese people and preserve the state, noting that Egypt received a quarter of a million Sudanese who fled violence.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also said that the King Salman Center has allocated $100 million for humanitarian support in Sudan. Bin Farhan added that the Kingdom continues its efforts to resolve the crisis in Sudan.

In turn, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced that her country is pledging to provide additional aid of $171 million to meet humanitarian needs in Sudan.

Germany also announced that it will provide humanitarian aid to Sudan worth $200 million until 2024.

Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, announced the allocation of an additional $22 million to meet urgent humanitarian needs in Sudan.

According to United Nations estimates, 25 million Sudanese (more than half of the population of about 45 million) need assistance.