UK Increase Humanitarian Support to Sudan
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With the humanitarian crisis worsening in Sudan, the United Kingdom has announced an increase in humanitarian support to Sudan for the new fiscal year, nearly doubling the aid package. Accordingly, the British aid package to Sudan for the period from 2024 to 2025 has risen to £89 million, up from about £50 million for the period 2023-2024, with £15 million allocated to Chad during the past year.
Andrew Mitchell, the Minister for Development and Africa, stated at the end of his visit to Chad on Friday, "The conflict in Sudan is destroying lives. Millions have been displaced and face catastrophic hunger conditions, with increasing evidence of atrocities against civilians."
He added, "The package announced today will help save lives. We have not forgotten the war in Sudan, and the world should not forget it. The urgent priority is to end the violence."
He once again called on the warring parties to commit to a permanent ceasefire and to lift restrictions preventing aid from reaching those in dire need. He stated that he discussed with the Chadian government how the UK and Chad can work together to achieve peace in Sudan.
Mitchell arrived in Chad on Wednesday for a two-day visit, during which he met with Chadian President Idriss Déby and Chadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chadians Abroad, Mohamed Saleh Annadif, before heading to the eastern part of the country on an inspection trip to the situation of Sudanese refugees. He visited a refugee site where violence has forced them to flee across the border into Chad.
The minister explained that British support includes providing food, water, support for survivors of gender-based violence, and funding for international organizations working to provide assistance to refugees.
This will include funding for UNICEF to provide urgent and life-saving food assistance to people, especially in hard-to-reach areas in Sudan, including nutrition, water, and personal hygiene supplies to 500,000 children under the age of five. Support will also be provided to survivors of violence among women and girls. The UK will also allocate an additional £4.95 million to provide a range of prevention and response services for female genital mutilation, child marriage, and violence against women and girls.
Additionally, the UK will work with the World Food Programme to assist more than 285,000 beneficiaries over a period of 6 months by providing 13,405 metric tons of assorted food commodities, including grains, pulses, oils, and salt.
