Paris donors pledge €2 billion to address humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan

France, Germany, and the European Union have pledged more than €2 billion to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, at the Paris Conference on Humanitarian Issues in Sudan, which concluded today.

The conference consisted of three parts. A meeting was held for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss unifying initiatives, while a seminar was held for Sudanese civil society organisations with the participation of 42 political and civil leaders, including Abdalla Hamdok, Jaafar El Mirghani, El Tijani Sese, and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Salwa Adam, indicating that attendees participated in their personal capacities. The joint meeting on humanitarian issues also took place yesterday afternoon regarding the declaration of countries’ pledges for humanitarian aid to Sudan.

Warring parties not present

The warring Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were conspicuous by their absence from the conference. As reported by Radio Dabanga on Friday, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “its utmost astonishment and condemnation” of the conference, convened by France, Norway, the United Kingdom, the USA, and the European Union, denouncing “that such a conference is convened on a matter concerning Sudan without consultation or coordination with its government and without its participation…”

Pledges

Speaking to delegates at the conference, aptly timed to mark a year since the conflict in Sudan broke out, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Paris will contribute €150 million euros in response to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock announced that Germany will provide an additional €244 million euros to Sudan. She said during her address at the conference that Sudan is witnessing “the worst child displacement crisis in the world.”

‘Every life counts equally, whether in Ukraine, in Gaza, or in Sudan…’ – German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock

The minister criticised the absence of coverage on the war in Sudan from the daily news, despite it entering its second year. “The international community must do more for the people of Sudan and for the children of Sudan.”

European commitment

The European Union announced the provision of €250 million euros to confront the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and 140 million to address its repercussions in neighbouring countries. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell presented five points.

These measures include getting the warring parties to commit to a cessation of hostilities to establish a lasting peace, reaching a humanitarian truce to allow aid workers to work without restrictions and enhancing coordination in mediation.

Workneh Gebeyehu, secretary general of the Horn of Africa Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) spoke about the urgent need “to provide meaningful political, diplomatic and humanitarian assistance to effectively address the crisis”.

Criticism

“There has been no collective global effort to protect children in Sudan,” Arif Noor, Save the Children’s country director in Sudan, said.

“In the first 105 days of 2024, the amount of money raised for the humanitarian crisis in Sudan was less than a fifth of what was pledged in just two days to rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.”

Noor said: “It is amazing that after the fire in which no one died, donors from all over the world moved to pledge funds to restore Notre Dame Cathedral. Meanwhile, children in Sudan are left to fend for themselves as war rages around them, famine, and disease increase, and almost all children in the country have been out of school for a year.

‘There are now more forcibly displaced children from Sudan than from any other country…’ – Mohammed Qazilbash, country director for Plan International Sudan

Tragic situation

Mohammed Qazilbash, country director for Plan International Sudan warned that “there are now more forcibly displaced children from Sudan than from any other country, and this number is increasing every day.”

He added: “These children are losing their families, increasingly unable to obtain food and water, and have not been able to go to school for a year.” He stressed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities throughout Sudan, increased financial support to meet the enormous level of needs in the region, and the commitment of the international community to provide immediate and long-term support for collective building. A better future for Sudan. “After a year of conflict and disaster, we cannot allow Sudan to become another forgotten emergency.”