{"id":20081666,"date":"2024-04-15T23:10:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T21:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20081666"},"modified":"2024-04-15T23:41:37","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T21:41:37","slug":"paris-donors-pledge-e2-billion-to-address-humanitarian-catastrophe-in-sudan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/paris-donors-pledge-e2-billion-to-address-humanitarian-catastrophe-in-sudan","title":{"rendered":"Paris donors pledge \u20ac2 billion to address humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

France, Germany, and the European Union have pledged more than \u20ac2 billion to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, at the Paris Conference on Humanitarian Issues in Sudan, which concluded today.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019 pledges for humanitarian aid to Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warring parties not present<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed \u201cits utmost astonishment and condemnation<\/a>\u201d of the conference, convened by France, Norway, the United Kingdom, the USA, and the European Union, denouncing \u201cthat such a conference is convened on a matter concerning Sudan without consultation or coordination with its government and without its participation\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pledges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to delegates at the conference, aptly timed to mark a year<\/a> since the conflict in Sudan broke out, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Paris will contribute \u20ac150 million euros in response to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock announced that Germany will provide an additional \u20ac244 million euros to Sudan. She said during her address at the conference that Sudan is witnessing \u201cthe worst child displacement crisis in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2018Every life counts equally, whether in Ukraine, in Gaza, or in Sudan\u2026\u2019 \u2013 German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The minister criticised the absence of coverage on the war in Sudan from the daily news, despite it entering its second year. \u201cThe international community must do more for the people of Sudan and for the children of Sudan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

European commitment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The European Union announced the provision of \u20ac250 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workneh Gebeyehu, secretary general of the Horn of Africa Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) spoke about the urgent need \u201cto provide meaningful political, diplomatic and humanitarian assistance to effectively address the crisis\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criticism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere has been no collective global effort to protect children in Sudan,\u201d Arif Noor, Save the Children\u2019s country director in Sudan, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noor said: \u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2018There are now more forcibly displaced children from Sudan than from any other country\u2026\u2019 \u2013 Mohammed Qazilbash, country director for Plan International Sudan<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Tragic situation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mohammed Qazilbash, country director for Plan International Sudan warned that \u201cthere are now more forcibly displaced children from Sudan than from any other country, and this number is increasing every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added: \u201cThese children are losing their families, increasingly unable to obtain food and water, and have not been able to go to school for a year.\u201d 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. \u201cAfter a year of conflict and disaster, we cannot allow Sudan to become another forgotten emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n