Sudan has received additional support from the United Nations (UN) to address the growing humanitarian crisis amid the ongoing armed conflict between the Sudanese regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In response to the critical lack of funding and the increasing humanitarian needs in Sudan, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths announced the allocation of an additional $20 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF).
"As humanitarian needs soar in Sudan with critically low funding, I've approved an additional $20M from UNCERF," Griffiths said in a statement on social media.
The UN humanitarian official noted that the new funds bring the total emergency funding for Sudan this year to $60 million.
Expressing concern over the dire situation in Sudan, Griffiths emphasized the immediate need for life-saving assistance for affected civilians. Access and funding for humanitarian operations play a crucial role in ensuring the delivery of the required support.
The conflict in Sudan, which erupted on April 15, has resulted in a tragic loss of life and the displacement of over four million people, according to estimates from the UN.
The clashes initially broke out between the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, in various areas of Sudan. The conflict was caused by the issue of integrating the RSF into the Sudanese army. The army demanded that the process be completed within two years, while the RSF insisted on a ten-year period.
In an effort to alleviate human suffering, a humanitarian agreement was signed in June between the two warring parties in Saudi Arabia, which allowed for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to deliver aid to civilians in need. However, the ceasefire has faced multiple violations by both sides, further exacerbating the ongoing crisis.