{"id":20084550,"date":"2024-05-08T11:38:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-08T09:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20084550"},"modified":"2024-07-09T19:54:53","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T17:54:53","slug":"sudan-humanitarian-response-wfp-lauds-new-eu-pledge-of-e302-mln","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/sudan-humanitarian-response-wfp-lauds-new-eu-pledge-of-e302-mln","title":{"rendered":"Sudan humanitarian response: WFP lauds new EU pledge of \u20ac302 mln"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has lauded a new pledge by the European Union (EU) of \u20ac117 million for the humanitarian response in Sudan, as well as an additional \u20ac185 million to respond to the impact of the crisis in neighbouring countries, as the UN food agency works to scale up its operations to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement today<\/a>, WFP Sudan Country Director and Representative Eddie Rowe, says: \u201cAmid escalating conflict and rising hunger, sufficient funding is critical to meet increasing humanitarian needs. We are extremely grateful to the EU for their contribution, which helped us save lives during this crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WFP says that with the support of the EU, it has been able to provide emergency food assistance to nearly 6.4 million people, of which around 550,000 people received cash, since the conflict erupted in Sudan just over one year ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis was in part made possible with a EUR \u20ac28 million contribution from the EU Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) in 2023. The aid agency also used this funding to help treat and prevent malnutrition for 260,000 children and pregnant or nursing women,\u201d the WFP statement says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018A record 17.7 million people already face acute food insecurity, while almost five million people are just one step away from starvation\u2026\u2019 \u2013 WFP<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

WFP has been warning that Sudan could become the world\u2019s largest hunger crisis during the upcoming lean season, which starts in May and lasts through October. Currently, during the harvest season, a record 17.7 million people already face acute food insecurity, while almost five million people are just one step away from starvation (IPC 4). The food security situation is expected to worsen even further in the coming months unless urgent action is taken to support those facing the highest levels of hunger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WFP points out that in 2024, the EU has mobilised an initial amount of EUR \u20ac117 million for the humanitarian response in Sudan, as well as an additional EUR \u20ac185 million to respond to the impact of the crisis in neighbouring countries. This new amount comes on top of the European Commission\u2019s humanitarian funding for Sudan in 2023, which totalled EUR \u20ac128 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs WFP works to scale up its operations to avert the risk of a humanitarian catastrophe, the support of partners such as the EU \u2014 one of our most generous partners in Sudan \u2014 remains critical to WFP\u2019s efforts,\u201d the statement concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NGOs call on EU for \u2018urgent, strategic, and concrete steps\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the run-up to the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan<\/a> in Paris last month, and to mark a year since the outbreak of the conflict, several prominent international human rights organisations, press freedom advocates, and humanitarian organisations, have addressed a joint open letter<\/a> to the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borell Fontelles, as well as the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU member states, urging \u201curgent, strategic, and concrete steps to respond to the massive cost on civilians of the dramatic human rights and humanitarian crisis in the country and prevent further violations\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an open letter<\/a>, jointly signed by Amnesty International; Brot f\u00fcr die Welt (Bread for the World); Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies; Christian Solidarity Worldwide; Finn Church Aid, Finland, Free Press Unlimited<\/a>, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights, International Service for Human Rights, and Protection International Institute, called on the EU and its member states \u201cto respond to this conflict urgently by engaging with the parties to the conflict and their regional supporters to stop all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to end the deliberate obstruction of relief\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u20ac896 million<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A statement by the European Commission on April 14, following the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan<\/a> in Paris last month, points out that the European Commission has committed \u20ac355 million in both humanitarian and development funding for Sudan and its neighbours. Together with the pledge from EU States of \u20ac541 million, total EU support to Sudan pledged at the conference amounts to \u20ac896 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018The one-year conflict in Sudan has created a catastrophic humanitarian situation. With half of the total population of the country at risk of starvation, the window to avoid the worst is quickly closing\u2026\u2019 \u2013 High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borell Fontelles<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The European Commission\u2019s funding will be channelled via humanitarian organisations to the most vulnerable in need suffering from consequences of the conflict in Sudan itself, but also those who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. EU aid will provide communities with health and nutritional care, food assistance, water and sanitation, shelter, protection, and education to the most vulnerable households \u2013 internally displaced, refugee families and host communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borell Fontelles, acknowledged: \u201cThe one-year conflict in Sudan has created a catastrophic humanitarian situation. With half of the total population of the country at risk of starvation, the window to avoid the worst is quickly closing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith today\u2019s pledge of \u20ac896 million, the EU shows its determination to stand by the Sudanese people. Our priority continues to be the implementation of a ceasefire and the passage of humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe principle of accountability must be applied, also through the application of sanctions. We must strengthen coordination, including when it comes to mediation. And we need to continue to support civil society representatives so they can contribute to shape the peace process. The resolution of this conflict must be a priority for the international community, even in a global context marked by multiple crises.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Time running out\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement on 3 May, WFP warns that \u201ctime is running out<\/a> to prevent starvation in Darfur as intensifying clashes in North Darfur\u2019s capital El Fasher hinder efforts to deliver vital food assistance into the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Civilians in Darfur are already facing devastating levels of hunger, yet deliveries of food assistance have been intermittent due to fighting and endless bureaucratic hurdles\u2026\u2019 \u2013 WFP<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Civilians in El Fasher and the wider Darfur region are already facing devastating levels of hunger, yet deliveries of food assistance have been intermittent due to fighting and endless bureaucratic hurdles. The latest escalation of violence around El Fasher has halted aid convoys coming from Chad\u2019s Tine border crossing \u2013 a recently opened humanitarian corridor that passes through North Darfur\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, restrictions from the authorities in Port Sudan are preventing WFP from transporting assistance via Adr\u00e9, the only other viable cross-border corridor from Chad. The route can serve West Darfur and other locations in Central, South and East Darfur. These access constraints are jeopardizing WFP’s plans to provide vital assistance to over 700,000 people ahead of the rainy season when many roads across Darfur become impassable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018WFP urgently requires unrestricted access and security guarantees to deliver assistance to the families struggling for survival amid devastating levels of violence\u2026\u2019 \u2013 Michael Dunford, WFP\u2019s Regional Director for Eastern Africa<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur calls for humanitarian access to conflict hotspots in Sudan have never been more critical: WFP urgently requires unrestricted access and security guarantees to deliver assistance to the families struggling for survival amid devastating levels of violence. We must be able to use the Adr\u00e9 border crossing and move assistance across frontlines from Port Sudan so we can reach people throughout the Darfur region,\u201d said Michael Dunford, WFP\u2019s Regional Director for Eastern Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WFP says that the recent surge in violence in El Fasher is exacerbating critical humanitarian needs in Darfur, where at least 1.7 million people are already experiencing emergency levels of hunger (IPC4). El Fasher had been a relative safe haven for families, hosting many IDP camps that pre-date the current conflict. Yet conditions were already critical with reports of children dying of malnutrition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now many are being forced to flee El Fasher and surrounding areas \u2013 some for the second or third time \u2013 and are becoming increasingly vulnerable. On top of the impact of the escalating violence, WFP is concerned that hunger will increase dramatically as the lean season between harvests sets in and people run out of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe situation is dire. People are resorting to consuming grass and peanut shells. If assistance doesn’t reach them soon, we risk witnessing widespread starvation and death in Darfur and across other conflict-affected areas in Sudan,” said Dunford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last six weeks, WFP has delivered emergency food and nutrition assistance to over 300,000 people in North, West, and Central Darfur using the Tine and Adr\u00e9 border crossings and a crossline route from Port Sudan. These breakthroughs followed lengthy negotiations. But the progress appears to have been short-lived with all routes now blocked. WFP and the rest of the humanitarian community needs to be able to deliver humanitarian assistance consistently and at scale to prevent a worsening of the crisis, WFP stresses.<\/p>\n