IRC urges leaders to boost funding as 25mil people in need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan

Addis Ababa, June 15, 2023 (FBC) – The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is calling for full funding at the upcoming UN pledging conference on Sudan given ongoing needs across the region.

Marking two months of escalated violence in Sudan, 25 million people are estimated to be in need of urgent humanitarian assistance and protection, a sharp 57% increase from the number in need at the beginning of 2023.

David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC, said. “On the current trajectory, Sudan will become the next Syria: the world’s largest humanitarian crisis both in terms of people in need and displacement to neighbouring countries and beyond adding that 25 million people are already in humanitarian need, and the exodus of refugees has already surpassed that of Rohingya refugees to Bangladesh in 2017.

Shashwat Saraf, Emergency Director for IRC East Africa said, “More than half the population of Sudan need humanitarian aid and protection. This is the highest number we have ever seen in the country (and) the response plan launched reflects that reality; the funding requirement of nearly $2.6 billion is the highest for any humanitarian appeal for Sudan, Shashwat added.

To address the situation an immediate and sustained ceasefire is urgently needed, followed by full funding of the regional humanitarian appeals, as they are currently only funded at around 23% on average.

Efforts to combat food insecurity must be urgently scaled up, involving a wider range of governments, international financial institutions, and local actors at the upcoming conference.