The United Nations has called for more than $3 billion in funding to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and refugee situation in Sudan, which has been further exacerbated by intense fighting since mid-April.
The revised estimates indicate that $2.6 billion is required for humanitarian aid alone, a significant increase from the $1.75 billion requested in December, as stated by the UN. These funds are crucial to enable humanitarian agencies to provide assistance to approximately 18 million of the most vulnerable individuals in the country, according to Ramesh Rajasingham, the head of humanitarian affairs at the UN.
In addition to humanitarian aid, the UN is seeking $470.4 million specifically for refugees who have fled the violence, projecting that up to 1.1 million people may leave Sudan this year.
Rajasingham emphasized the magnitude of the crisis, stating, “Today, 25 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population – require humanitarian assistance and protection,” underscoring the urgent need for support.
Since the outbreak of fighting on April 15 between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane’s army and General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries, the situation has rapidly deteriorated. Tragically, the conflict has resulted in an estimated 1,000 fatalities and displaced one million people, both within Sudan and as refugees.
The ongoing conflict has significantly worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in the country, where one in three individuals were already reliant on humanitarian aid prior to the outbreak of war.
Just two weeks ago, Filippo Grandi, the head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), estimated that “more than 800,000 people” could flee the deadly violence in Sudan.
Raouf Mazou, a UNHCR official, reported that since the crisis began a month ago, approximately 220,000 refugees have sought shelter in neighboring countries. Meanwhile, more than 700,000 individuals have been internally displaced within Sudan itself. Mazou emphasized the plight of those affected, noting that countless innocent individuals remain trapped in Sudan as victims of indiscriminate violence.
The UN’s urgent appeal for financial support aims to alleviate the suffering of millions of Sudanese people and ensure that essential humanitarian assistance and protection can be provided to those in desperate need.
Image Credit: AP Photo/Smowal Abdalla
