The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has announced that the international aid program for Sudanese affected by the ongoing armed conflict in the country is only 16% funded. During a press conference in Geneva on Friday, spokesperson William Spindler emphasized the urgent need for funding to save lives in Sudan and neighboring countries. He highlighted that the situation in Sudan is deteriorating, with people seeking security and protection both within the country and in neighboring nations such as Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic.
Spindler noted that this year’s international plan to address humanitarian issues, which requires $2.7 billion to assist 14.7 million Sudanese, has only achieved 16% of its funding goal. An additional $1.4 billion is needed to meet the needs of Sudanese refugees in neighboring countries, where approximately 2.7 million people in five countries are awaiting assistance. To date, only 5% of this amount has been secured by the United Nations.
The spokesperson called on donor countries to fulfill their financial commitments to aid Sudan immediately. It’s worth noting that a donor conference in Paris last April announced donations totaling over two billion dollars, yet the full amount has not been collected so far.
In Sudan, the ongoing conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has continued to escalate into 2024. Key developments include the RSF gaining control in several areas, including strategic positions near the capital, Khartoum. This has resulted in increased violence, with airstrikes and artillery shelling becoming almost daily occurrences in the region. The humanitarian situation has worsened significantly, with millions of Sudanese seeking security and assistance both within and outside the country
In addition to the military conflicts, there have been diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to address the crisis. A key discussion point among international bodies, including the UN Security Council, has been the provision of humanitarian aid and the adherence to international humanitarian law. The closure of border crossings with Chad, which had implications for the transit of both humanitarian aid and weapons, was notably discussed. Furthermore, an international humanitarian conference aimed at addressing the crisis and raising funds is scheduled to be held