UNITED NATIONS: The United States on Thursday announced more than $200 million in new financial assistance for civilians affected by the war in Sudan, including refugees who have fled to neighboring states.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been involved in a war between its regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). “The people of Sudan are facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.
“I’m proud to announce that the United States is providing an additional $203 million in humanitarian funding,” she reported, adding that the money is meant “to support people in Sudan, Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan affected by this brutal conflict.”
The assistance comes in addition to nearly $500 million that the US had provided to the African state since the beginning of the year. According to the UN, the war has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 10 million, including two million refugees who have fled to neighboring states.
Some 25.6 million people are facing an acute food shortage, a UN-backed report said in late June. “People are eating dirt to survive, relying on tree leaves for nutrition,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
The new US assistance is intended for the construction of refugee shelters, medical support, food aid and assistance to communities hosting those who have been displaced.
The US ambassador also repeated a call for a ceasefire and better humanitarian aid access, condemning the Sudanese Army’s blockage of the Adre border crossing between Chad and Sudan.
She added the UN Security Council should consider all tools at its disposal to improve humanitarian access to war-hit areas of Sudan.
