Donors pledged about 1.5 billion euros for Sudan at an international meeting held in Berlin Wednesday to mark three years of a war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, reports AFP.
"This nightmare must end," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling the anniversary "a tragic milestone in a conflict that has shattered a country of immense promise".
"The consequences are not confined to Sudan. They are destabilising the wider region," he said via teleconference.
Conference host, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, said, "Largely beyond the public eye, the world's greatest man-made humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in Sudan." He added that Germany would contribute 230 million euros in aid.
Donor mobilisation including Cyprus
Cyprus is among the countries contributing financially to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, as part of a broader European mobilisation exceeding €811 million, according to a European Commission statement issued on Wednesday evening.
The 3rd International Sudan Conference saw pledges of financial support to tackle the dire situation in the country from the EU and its Member States, together with international partners such as the United States, the United Kingdom and the African Union.
Out of the total €811.84 million pledged by the EU, the European Commission is contributing €360.8 million. Of this, €215.5 million is allocated for humanitarian aid inside Sudan, while €145.3 million will support efforts to address the refugee crisis in neighbouring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Libya. The remaining funding comes from EU member states, including Germany, France, Greece, Sweden and Cyprus.
According to the Commission, EU aid will focus on addressing food insecurity through financial assistance, providing healthcare and nutrition services, improving access to water and sanitation, and ensuring shelter, protection and education for affected populations.
30 million people face severe food shortages
With more than 13 million people displaced and 33.7 million in need of immediate assistance, the situation in Sudan remains extremely critical. At the same time, famine has been confirmed in several regions, with around 30 million people facing severe food shortages.
The war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed tens of thousands of people.
Nearly 700 civilians have been killed in drone strikes since January alone, with attacks escalating on both sides, particularly in the southern Kordofan region and Blue Nile State, according to the United Nations.
UN rights chief Volker Turk told the Berlin meeting that he was "alarmed by the sharp increase in the use of drone warfare in recent months" in the conflict.
Drone strikes caused three-quarters of documented civilian deaths in the first three months of this year, he said.
The Berlin conference aims not only to boost humanitarian aid, but also to increase pressure to end hostilities and promote a peaceful, democratic transition in the country. This latest pledge builds on previous EU initiatives, which have provided over €1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Sudan since 2013.
Sources: European Commission, CNA,AFP