The United Kingdom has announced an additional £113 million ($143 million) in aid to support over one million people impacted by the ongoing conflict in Sudan, doubling its current commitment to the war-torn nation and its neighbours.
The funding, unveiled on Sunday, will provide life-saving assistance to 600,000 people in Sudan and 700,000 refugees in surrounding countries who have fled the violence.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy pledged unwavering support, stating, “The brutal conflict in Sudan has caused unimaginable suffering. The people of Sudan need more aid, which is why the UK is helping to provide much-needed food, shelter and education for the most vulnerable.”
“The UK will never forget Sudan,” he vowed.
The conflict erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
The war has devastated the civilian population, with recent UN reports accusing both sides of employing starvation tactics against 25 million people. Aid organisations have warned of a historic hunger crisis, with desperate families forced to eat leaves and insects to survive.
Lammy, who will address the UN Security Council on Monday, will urge the SAF to keep the critical Adre border crossing open indefinitely to facilitate aid deliveries.
The new funding will support UN and NGO partners in providing food, cash assistance, shelter, medical care, and improved access to water and sanitation.
A study published this week highlighted the dire situation, suggesting death tolls in Khartoum State alone may exceed current estimates for the entire country.
