Agencies – Darfur 24
Britain announced on Tuesday that it will provide £120 million ($158 million) in additional aid package to the Sudanese people, who it said are facing the worst humanitarian crisis on record, as it hosted a conference marking the second anniversary of the war.
During the conference, diplomats and aid officials from around the world are meeting to try to alleviate the suffering caused by the two-year-old war in Sudan, which has killed tens of thousands, displaced 14 million people, and pushed large parts of the country to the brink of famine.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the war has been going on for far too long, “yet much of the world continues to turn a blind eye.”
“We must act now to prevent the crisis from turning into a full-scale catastrophe and ensure aid reaches those most in need,” he added in a statement, noting that the combatants have shown “appalling disregard” for Sudanese civilians.
Britain is hosting the London conference in partnership with the African Union, the European Union, France, and Germany. Participating countries include Egypt, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates.
Sudan’s foreign minister sent a letter to Lamy complaining about Sudan’s exclusion and criticizing the UAE and Kenya’s presence.
“Achieving peace in Sudan depends on valuing every voice and every player in building a prosperous Sudan,” said Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security.
War broke out in Sudan in April 2023 as a result of a power struggle between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), dashing hopes for a transition to civilian rule.
The conflict has since displaced millions and devastated areas such as Darfur, where the RSF is now fighting to maintain its stronghold amid the army’s advance on Khartoum.
Rather than directly mediating the conflict, Britain said Monday’s London conference would be an opportunity to bolster the international response to the crisis, despite Sudan’s criticism that its government was not invited to the talks.