Donors pledge US$1.5bn to respond to humanitarian crisis in Sudan

Addis Ababa, June 20, 2023 (FBC) – Donors at a UN conference on Monday (19 June) pledged close to US$1.5 billion to combat the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and help its neighbours host refugees fleeing the fighting, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) confirmed.

The ministerial-level pledging event in Geneva comes midway through a three-day ceasefire which appeared to have brought calm to the capital Khartoum, after the failure of earlier truces to secure aid corridors.

“Today, donors have announced close to US$1.5 billion for the humanitarian response to Sudan and the region,” the UN’s humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said, closing the conference hosted in Geneva.

“This crisis will require sustained financial support and I hope we can all keep Sudan at the top of our priorities.”

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees chief Filippo Grandi added: “It is very important these contributions be clearly allocated and disbursed as quickly as possible because we’re really short of funds”.

More than two months into the fighting, the United Nations is worried the crisis could spill over and destabilise neighbouring African states.

“The scale and speed of Sudan’s descent into death and destruction is unprecedented,” UN Secretary General Guterres told the conference.

“Without strong international support, Sudan could quickly become a locus of lawlessness, radiating insecurity across the region.”

It is noted that the pledging event was organized by the United Nations and Egypt, Germany, Qatar, audi Arabia, the African Union and the European Union.