UN Warns of Dire Consequences from Donor Aid Cuts in Sudan
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Synopsis
On March 10, the UN raised alarms about a significant downturn in global aid to Sudan, which is grappling with a humanitarian crisis due to ongoing conflict. The UN OCHA highlighted the severe impact of funding cuts on vulnerable populations.
Key Takeaways
- UN warns of severe funding cuts affecting humanitarian efforts in Sudan.
- 21 million people are in urgent need of assistance.
- Urgent funding of 4.2 billion USD is required, but only 6.3% has been secured.
- 30 million people in total, including many children, require aid.
- Conflict has led to over 15 million displaced individuals.
Khartoum, March 10 (NationPress) The United Nations (UN) issued a grave warning on Monday about a drastic drop in global financial support for Sudan, which is facing a severe humanitarian crisis due to ongoing conflict.
Sudden funding cuts by prominent government donors are a devastating setback for humanitarian efforts in Sudan, a nation grappling with one of the most lethal humanitarian crises of our era, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated in a release.
Recently, key donors have revealed considerable funding reductions and suspensions, effectively halting vital support to humanitarian organizations striving to assist around 21 million people in critical need in Sudan this year, according to the report.
The OCHA emphasized that these funding cuts arrive at a critical juncture when demands in Sudan have surged, with more than half of the population experiencing hunger and famine conditions worsening.
This year, the needs are even more pronounced, with 4.2 billion U.S. dollars necessary for humanitarian aid in Sudan, yet only 6.3 percent of this funding has been secured.
The UN agency also cautioned that these sudden funding reductions would terminate life-saving assistance for millions of vulnerable groups, including women and children. Without immediate funding, the risk of famine spreading in the coming months is high.
The OCHA urged all major donors to rethink their funding cuts for Sudan, calling upon other governments, charities, foundations, networks, the private sector, and individuals to urgently contribute to bridging the gaps left by these drastic reductions.
UN estimates reveal that over 30 million people, with more than half being children, require assistance in Sudan, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
On February 17, the UN initiated a six-billion-dollar humanitarian appeal to aid nearly 26 million Sudanese affected by the ongoing conflict, both within Sudan and in neighboring countries.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a catastrophic conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has resulted in at least 29,683 fatalities, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a crisis monitoring organization.
The conflict has also displaced over 15 million people, both internally and externally, as estimated by the International Organization for Migration.
