The United States will contribute an additional $203 million to assist millions of civilians affected by the conflict in Sudan, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced on Thursday. She also called on other nations to increase their aid efforts.
In a statement to Reuters on Thursday, it was announced that the funds are intended to assist civilians in Sudan and those who have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted in April 2023.
Last month, a global monitor reported that 14 regions across Sudan are at a significant risk of famine if the conflict intensifies.
The U.N. World Food Programme has labeled the swiftly worsening hunger crisis as the most severe globally.
A U.S. official stated that the additional funds bring the total American aid for Sudanese civilians in Sudan, Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan to $707 million since October.
The United States remains the largest single donor to the humanitarian response.
“The people of Sudan are enduring the worst humanitarian crisis globally.
Much more needs to be done to assist them,” stated Thomas-Greenfield, who called Chad’s border with Sudan in September to meet with refugees from the conflict.
“We hope this new round of aid serves as a call to action for others.”
The ongoing conflict, initiated by a plan to integrate the army and paramilitary forces as part of a transition towards democratic elections, has resulted in repeated waves of ethnically driven violence.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been widely accused of perpetrating these acts, although they deny deliberately targeting civilians and attribute such incidents to rogue elements within their ranks.
According to the U.N., nearly 25 million people in Sudan, representing half of the country’s population, require humanitarian aid.
The threat of famine is imminent, and over 10 million individuals have been displaced from their homes. Among them, more than 2.2 million have sought refuge in other countries.
The United States has asserted that the conflicting parties are implicated in war crimes, specifically accusing the RSF and allied militias of committing acts of humanity and ethnic cleansing.
Analysis from a Reuters report last month using satellite imagery indicated a significant increase in cemetery expansions as famine and disease persist.
“Yes, the Sudanese people urgently require increased humanitarian funding, but it’s crucial for the parties involved to also facilitate humanitarian access,” remarked Thomas-Greenfield.
She emphasized that the United States was ready to advocate for further U.N. Security Council measures to guarantee aid reaches those most in need if required.
The 15-member council passed a resolution in March, urging an immediate cessation of hostilities, the removal of impediments to humanitarian aid, and the protection of civilians.
In June, another resolution was adopted, focusing on ending the blockade affecting a city with a population of 1.8 million in Sudan’s North Darfur region.
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