Responding to Sudan’s deepening humanitarian crisis, the United States has announced a substantial increase in aid, totaling over $315 million. This aid is aimed at supporting millions of Sudanese people who are grappling with what has been termed the world’s largest humanitarian emergency.
Samantha Power, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling on Sudan’s military and paramilitary forces to cease blocking aid efforts. She highlighted that obstruction, rather than food shortages, is the main driver behind the severe starvation affecting the population.
The United Nations has reported that nearly half of Sudan’s population, around 25 million people, require urgent humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing conflict. Around 8 million people have been displaced from their homes since violence erupted in April 2023, marking one of the largest displacements globally in recent times.
The conflict primarily involves clashes between Sudan’s national army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), triggering widespread suffering and displacement across the country.
Recent developments have seen the UN Security Council intervene, demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities and the lifting of sieges, such as the one imposed on al-Fashir, a city in North Darfur with a population of 1.8 million. The escalating violence in this region has raised concerns of broader intercommunal strife throughout Darfur, prompting urgent international calls for peace and humanitarian access.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, underscored the need for all parties to adhere to international law and facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access. She warned that if the warring factions fail to comply, the Security Council may consider authorizing aid delivery through neighboring countries.
Thomas-Greenfield also stressed the importance of resuming ceasefire negotiations, which have stalled despite efforts by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia under the Jeddah platform.
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The United States remains committed to pressing Sudan’s military leadership to return to the negotiating table. Efforts to broker a ceasefire have faced setbacks, with talks suspended following disagreements over terms. Despite these challenges, the international community, led by the U.S., continues to advocate for peace talks and seeks to halt the flow of external weapons that exacerbate the conflict.
The situation in Sudan remains fluid, with humanitarian needs growing ever more urgent amid ongoing violence and displacement.
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