{"id":20114998,"date":"2025-03-11T16:37:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T15:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/?p=20114998"},"modified":"2025-03-11T21:26:52","modified_gmt":"2025-03-11T20:26:52","slug":"un-4-2-billion-needed-for-sudan-amid-intnl-aid-slump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dabangasudan.org\/en\/all-news\/article\/un-4-2-billion-needed-for-sudan-amid-intnl-aid-slump","title":{"rendered":"UN: $4.2 billion needed for Sudan amid int’nl aid slump"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UN aims to reach nearly 21 million vulnerable people with life-saving aid and protection in 2025, however, sudden funding cuts by top government donors present \u201ca catastrophic blow to humanitarian assistance in Sudan\u201d, with an estimated $4.2 billion needed for humanitarian support, yet only 6.3 per cent of the funding has been received, the UN says. In its latest <\/strong>Global Humanitarian Overview<\/strong><\/a>, the UN says that \u201cthis is the highest number of people in any UN-coordinated plan this year\u201d in terms of its <\/strong>2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan<\/strong><\/a> (HNRP) for Sudan.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a separate statement<\/a> yesterday the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, laments: \u201cSudden funding cuts by top government donors are a catastrophic blow to humanitarian assistance in Sudan, a country in the grip of one of the deadliest humanitarian crises of our times.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018The reductions [in funding] come at a time when the needs in Sudan have never been greater, with more than half of the population hungry and famine spreading\u2026 \u2013 UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nkweta-Salami points out that \u201ckey donors recently announced sweeping funding reductions and suspensions, cutting off significant support to humanitarian organisations working to reach about 21 million people in desperate need in Sudan this year,\u201d adding that \u201cthe reductions come at a time when the needs in Sudan have never been greater, with more than half of the population hungry and famine spreading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Clementine Nkweta-Salami, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan (File photo: UN TV)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While not mentioning the USA specifically, Nkweta-Salami clearly alludes to the sweeping suspension of foreign funding by the US State Department, in accordance with US President Donald Trump\u2019s Executive Order of January 20<\/a>, to \u201creevaluate and realign US foreign aid\u201d. The sudden suspension has created a chasm in the global humanitarian aid infrastructure, and left humanitarian, civil society, and independent media organisations reeling in its wake, many facing an existential threat to their continued operation.<\/p>\n\n\n

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(Source: OCHA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Lifeline for Sudan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nkweta-Salami does underscore that for decades, humanitarian donors have been a lifeline for Sudan. \u201cLast year alone, they contributed $1.8 billion through the Sudan humanitarian response plan, funding essential assistance for at least 15.6 million people,\u201d adding: \u201cThis year, the needs are even greater \u2013 $4.2 billion is required to provide humanitarian aid in Sudan, yet only 6.3 per cent of the funding has been received.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nkweta-Salami underscores that \u201cthe abrupt funding cuts and suspensions will end life-saving humanitarian assistance for millions of women, children and other vulnerable groups across the country. Without urgent funding, famine is likely to spread in the coming months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She reiterates that \u201cthis is a time when every lifeline must flow to save lives,\u201d and calls on all major donors \u201cto reconsider their decisions to reduce funding for life-saving humanitarian assistance in Sudan\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nkweta-Salami also urges other governments, donors, foundations, charities, faith-based networks, the private sector and individuals \u201cto urgently step up to help fill the gaps left by these devastating reductions\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OCHA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Nearly two years of conflict have fuelled a catastrophic protection crisis and displaced a staggering 12 million people in Sudan\u2026\u2019 \u2013 UN OCHA<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In its latest Global Humanitarian Overview<\/a>, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), underscores that nearly two years of conflict have fuelled a catastrophic protection crisis and displaced a staggering 12 million people in Sudan and across borders. \u201cNearly two-thirds of the population need emergency aid, and the country is facing famine conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to the crisis, on 17 February 2025, the United Nations and partners launched the 2025 humanitarian and refugee response plans for Sudan, appealing for a combined $6 billion to assist nearly 26 million people inside the country and in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In Aroma in Kassala, teams of health volunteers have been screening children for malnutrition as part of a UNICEF-supported door-to-door nutrition campaign (Photo: UNICEF \/ Rajab)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Regional Refugee Response Plan will prioritise the delivery of life-saving assistance and protection, including emergency shelters, relocation from border areas to safer locations, psychosocial support, clean water, healthcare and education. Humanitarian partners will need $1.8 billion to support 4.8 million people in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda. The plan also aims to help host countries strengthen national services and implement programmes that will help bring stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OCHA says that with $1.8 billion in support last year, humanitarian organisations reached more than 15.6 million people across Sudan. Assistance included food and livelihoods support for more than 13 million people as well as water, sanitation and hygiene support, health and nutrition, and shelter assistance. Humanitarian organisations working in neighbouring countries<\/a> provided lifesaving assistance delivering food to over a million people, medical support to half a million and protection services to over 800,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The funding crisis has also hit many independent media organisations worldwide, forcing them to scale down operations, and threatens to deprive some of the most vulnerable communities of a vital link to reliable, accurate news and information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Having independent media, especially in situations of war and conflict, is crucial…’ – Netherlands Human Rights Ambassador, Wim Geerts<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to Dabanga \u2013 Radio TV Online Editor-in-Chief Kamal Elsadig at Journalists Under Fire<\/a>, a high-level side event to the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council<\/a> in Geneva on February 26, the Netherlands Human Rights Ambassador, Wim Geerts<\/a> underlined the essential role of media, and why it needs support from the international community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHaving independent media, especially in situations of war and conflict, is crucial,\u201d says Ambassador Geerts. It is very, very important and is for many people also a lifeline. It\u2019s about receiving objective information, and sometimes it\u2019s also of vital importance in terms of making sure that people know where to go or where not to go,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dabanga – Radio TV Online newsroom in Amsterdam<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In a recent editorial<\/a> to mark Human Rights Day<\/a>, Kamal Elsadig himself emphasises: \u201cAccess to news is a basic human right, and a matter of survival in Sudan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his own address to delegates at Journalists Under Fire<\/em>, El Sadig \u00a0pointed out: \u201cThe war in Sudan is not just a conflict of arms, but a battle for truth. The silencing of the pen is a tragedy for the Sudanese people. And a threat to democracy everywhere.\u201d He laments that Sudanese media institutions have sunk into a deadly silence. More than 90 percent of these institutions have stopped working, since the outbreak of the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Famine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Famine conditions have been reported in at least five locations in Sudan, including camps for displaced people in Darfur and in the western Nuba Mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The situation is expected to worsen by May when the lean season begins. With fighting continuing and basic services collapsing in much of the country, the crisis is set to worsen, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)<\/a> say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan aims to reach nearly 21 million vulnerable people with life-saving assistance and protection, the highest number of people in any UN-coordinated plan this year and requires $4.2 billion in support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The region<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To date, nearly 3.5 million people have sought safety in neighbouring countries further stretching already scarce services and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Regional Refugee Response Plan will prioritise the delivery of life-saving assistance and protection, including emergency shelters, relocation from border areas to safer locations, psychosocial support, clean water, health care and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Humanitarian partners will need $1.8 billion to support 4.8 million people in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda. The plan also aims to help host countries strengthen national services and implement programmes that will help bring stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without immediate funding, two-thirds of refugee children will be denied access to primary education, threatening an entire generation. Up to 4.8 million refugees and host community members will continue to face severe food insecurity, with at least 1.8 million going without food assistance. Already strained health systems may collapse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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