The United States is set to announce an additional $100 million in aid to address the ongoing conflict in Sudan, a statement reviewed by Reuters revealed, as the U.S. aims to galvanize a global response on the eve of the conflict’s first anniversary. Samantha Power, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, indicated that the new funds would be allocated for emergency food assistance, nutritional support, and other critical humanitarian aid, according to the statement initially disclosed by Reuters.
Additionally, Power plans to urge the conflicting parties to cease obstructing humanitarian efforts and to engage sincerely in negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire to avert famine and alleviate further hardship. “A year ago tomorrow, the people of Sudan awoke to a nightmare,” Power stated, describing how the conflict transformed vibrant communities into war zones, resulting in thousands of deaths, bodies left in the streets, and civilians trapped in their homes lacking essentials like food, water, and medicine.
The conflict, which broke out on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has wreaked havoc on the nation’s infrastructure. While exact death tolls are uncertain, both sides have faced accusations of war crimes. The conflict has plunged millions into severe hunger, led to the world’s largest displacement crisis, and ignited a surge of ethnically motivated killings and sexual violence, particularly in Sudan’s Darfur region.
This announcement from Washington came on the eve of a humanitarian conference in France scheduled for April 15. The U.S. has called on international partners to prioritize the Sudanese crisis and to commit more resources at the upcoming conference. “We call on others to join us in increasing support to the people of Sudan and urgently mobilizing additional support for the Sudanese response,” Power emphasized.