A high-level pledging event to support the humanitarian response in Sudan and the region will begin Monday in Geneva, with the participation of the UN, Egypt, Germany, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the African Union (AU), and the European Union.
The UN estimates indicated that about 25 million people, more than half the population of Sudan, are in desperate need of aid due to an acute humanitarian crisis made worse by the fighting.
In April, clashes erupted between the national army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in large-scale displacement and shattered access to food, water, cash, fuel, health care, and other essential services for millions of people.
Medical sources confirmed that about three-quarters of the hospitals in the clash zone are out of service.
Saudi Arabia said that the conference would announce pledges to support the humanitarian response.
Earlier this month, the UN declared that the humanitarian response plan received 16 percent of the required funding.
UN spokesman Stephan Dujarric announced that the humanitarian response plan is seeking $2.56 billion to help people affected by the crisis in Sudan but received $401 million.
On Saturday, Sudan’s warring parties agreed to a ceasefire after fighting intensified with an air attack in Khartoum. The clashes in Darfur pushed hundreds to escape to Chad.
$100 million
Meanwhile, the UNICEF Representative in Sudan, Mandeep O’Brien, described the Sudan crisis as a “children’s crisis,” noting that over 13 million children urgently need humanitarian assistance.
O’Brien appealed for an immediate $100 million to “sustain and scale up our crisis response in Sudan over the next month.”
Civilians in Sudan are in dire situations after residential areas in Khartoum and other regions became war zones, with a lack of services and medical assistance.
Minister Mohammed Saleh told state television in Sudan that the security situation stabilized in 15 states of the 18, noting that the war mainly damaged Khartoum.
Aboul Gheit
Meanwhile, Arab League Sec-Gen Ahmed Aboul Gheit announced that he discussed the situation in Sudan with European High Representative and Vice President Josep Borrell.
They reviewed the problematic situation, asserting the need to coordinate international action to salvage it.
Later, Borrell tweeted that he discussed regional matters with Aboul Gheit, such as the need for peace in Sudan.
