Plunged into a conflict that has lasted nearly two years, Sudan faces increasingly serious challenges.
With over 30 million people across Sudan in need of protection and assistance, urgent appeals are being made to mobilise all resources to address the humanitarian crisis that threatens to spread throughout the region.
Having been devastated by violence for decades, Sudan continues to suffer crises after conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the prolonged conflict has forced the displacement of more than 12 million people — about a quarter of Sudan's population. Of these, approximately 3.3 million have fled to neighbouring countries.
Even after leaving their homes, many Sudanese people cannot find a safe haven.
OCHA recently expressed deep concern about the increase in attacks on the Zamzam camp, which is receiving hundreds of thousands of people in North Darfur.
Also, according to OCHA, less than a quarter of health facilities are still operating in the areas most affected by the conflict. Meanwhile, more than 25 million people in Sudan are facing severe food insecurity.
Amid increasingly urgent humanitarian needs, a high-level humanitarian conference for the people of Sudan was held on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
At the conference, leaders and officials from Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the AU, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) reaffirmed their commitment to work together to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Emphasising the close relationship between the two neighbouring countries, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed affirmed solidarity with the people of Sudan in this difficult time. He also stressed Ethiopia's commitment towards stability and cooperation in the region, especially in addressing humanitarian challenges.
The conference in Addis Ababa called on the international community to increase humanitarian aid to Sudan because the essential needs of the people there have not been met. The conference also called on the parties to the conflict to ensure safe and unhindered access to aid, and to protect aid workers and humanitarian facilities.
As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches, Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called on the parties in Sudan to impose a ceasefire immediately. If implemented, this could pave the way for dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict.
At the recent conference, participating countries made commitments to help limit the impact of the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Accordingly, the UAE will provide an additional 200 million USD, bringing total aid to more than 600 USD million since the conflict broke out. Ethiopia and Kenya will also contribute 15 million USD and 1 million USD, respectively, to support the people of Sudan.
Although partly showing the international community's solidarity with Sudan, the above commitments are still not enough because the humanitarian needs for the people of this country are estimated at 6 billion USD this year.
This is considered the amount needed for the United Nations and its partners to implement the Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan and the Sudan Refugee Response Plan 2025, which are scheduled to be launched this week.
This year, the two plans aim to support nearly 26 million people who are most in need of support, mostly in Sudan and also in countries receiving refugees.
Attending the conference in Addis Ababa, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned about the devastating level of the humanitarian crisis and called on the international community to urgently scale up funding and diplomatic action to help the Sudanese people “out of this nightmare.”
He also stressed the need to stop the flow of arms and ammunition into Sudan, which is enabling the continuation of tremendous civilian destruction and bloodshed.
“At this blessed time for peace, compassion, giving and solidarity, I urge all of you to use your tremendous leverage for good,” Guterres stated.
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