A congressional delegation to Chad calls for increased humanitarian aid

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Two U.S. House Representatives and a Senator issued a joint statement urging the international community, including the United States government, to significantly increase aid to meet the needs of Sudanese refugees in Chad.

This call came following the first visit by a delegation from the U.S. Congress to Sudanese refugee camps in eastern Chad, led by Representatives Barbara Lee and Sara Jacobs, along with Senator Cory Booker.

In a joint statement released on Tuesday on Representative Barbara Lees Democratic website from California, they stated, "New refugees are no longer just fleeing violence; they are now leaving Sudan in search of food. We have seen firsthand the critical lifesaving work supported by American aid and UN agencies on the ground, but it is abundantly clear that the available resources are insufficient."

The delegation urged the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces to immediately cease fighting and allow humanitarian aid access throughout Sudan.

They also praised the Special Envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, "for his urgent work to end the conflict and support the Sudanese people in their efforts to form a civilian government and provide more assistance for the humanitarian crisis within Sudan and neighboring countries like Chad."

It is noted that Representative Barbara Lee (Democrat from California) is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, and Sara Jacobs (Democrat from California) is a member of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights, while Senator Cory Booker (Democrat from New Jersey) chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy.