BY COMFORT OGBONNA
On Sunday, the United States will announce an additional $100 million in aid to address the conflict in Sudan, as reported in a statement obtained by Reuters.
This move aims to encourage international response ahead of the war’s anniversary on Monday. Samantha Power, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, stated that the additional funding will support emergency food assistance, nutrition, and other essential aid efforts.
Power will also urge the conflicting parties to cease obstructing humanitarian access and engage in sincere negotiations for a ceasefire to avert famine and further suffering. “A year ago tomorrow, the people of Sudan woke up to a nightmare,” Power remarked. “The warring factions turned lively neighborhoods into battlegrounds, resulting in thousands of casualties, bodies strewn in the streets, and civilians trapped in their homes without adequate food, water, or medicine.” Sudan plunged into war on April 15, 2023, pitting the Sudanese army against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and causing extensive damage to the country’s infrastructure.
Thousands of civilians have been killed, although estimates of the death toll are highly uncertain, and both sides have been accused of committing war crimes. The war has caused millions to experience extreme hunger, led to the world’s largest displacement crisis, and sparked waves of ethnically driven killings and sexual violence in the Darfur region of western Sudan.
Washington’s announcement of additional assistance precedes a humanitarian conference in France on April 15. The U.S. has encouraged partners worldwide to prioritize the conflict in Sudan and provide further funding at the conference.
“We urge others to join us in increasing support for the people of Sudan and swiftly mobilizing additional aid for the Sudanese response,” stated Power.
