Sudan Receives Over £1 Billion in Pledges Amid Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

More than £1 billion has been pledged to support Sudan, a country devastated by three years of conflict, at a conference in Berlin. This exceeds the initial funding target set by German ministers, which was $1 billion.

The pledged amount will help offset the chronic humanitarian funding shortfall in Sudan, where two-thirds of the population, approximately 34 million people, require assistance. The UN chief, António Guterres, called for an end to the crisis, describing it as a 'nightmare'.

Conference and Pledges

Delegates at the conference pledged a total of £1.13 billion, with Germany's foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, expressing gratitude to all donors. However, the prospect of peace remains distant, with scant progress reported on ceasefire talks.

Neither of Sudan's warring parties, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the army, attended the conference in Berlin. Sudan's army-aligned foreign ministry denounced the delegates for not consulting them, accusing western countries of a 'colonial tutelage approach'.

Outside the conference, hundreds of protesters assembled, many chanting against the United Arab Emirates and its alleged support for the RSF. The US has stated that it is not taking sides in the war and is seeking a humanitarian truce to allow aid to reach those in need.

Diplomatic Efforts and Funding

Diplomatic efforts led by the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE have so far failed to achieve meaningful progress. The funding pledges announced by Germany's foreign minister provide a rare positive development in the context of shrinking aid budgets.

Sudan is grappling with an alarming funding shortfall, with only 16% of the overall £2.1 billion humanitarian needs assessment for this year having been funded. Guterres emphasized that 'credible allegations of the gravest international crimes' are continually emerging from the conflict, including systematic sexual violence against women and girls.

Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to external interference and the flow of arms that fuel the war. The UK foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, also called for a concerted international effort to stop the flow of arms into Sudan.