“Prevent famine catastrophe”
Conference raises two billion euros for Sudan
April 15, 2024, 8:15 p.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
There is civil war in Sudan. Thousands of people have been killed and more than eight million are on the run. In Paris, the international community pledged billions in aid. Foreign Minister Baerbock is also increasing German funding.
Sudan, which has been shaken by civil war, is to receive more than two billion euros in aid. French President Emmanuel Macron announced this during a donor conference in Paris. “We do not forget what is happening in Sudan and remain mobilized,” he continued. “The scale of our commitment will enable us to address the most urgent needs in the areas of nutrition, health, water, hygiene, education and in protecting the most vulnerable populations.” The talks in Paris also focused on better coordination of efforts to achieve peace and end the conflict, the French president said.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had previously announced that Germany would provide a further 244 million euros in humanitarian aid. “Together we can succeed in preventing a terrible hunger catastrophe, but only if we take action together now,” said Baerbock. The hope had previously been expressed in diplomatic circles that more than one billion euros could be received in commitments.
With the conference, Germany, France and the EU want to mobilize as much international help as possible for the people in need in the country, where civil war has been raging again for a year. According to the Foreign Office in Berlin, almost 15,000 people have been killed and around 8.5 million displaced so far. The health system has collapsed, “a country in ruins,” it says on the ministry’s website.
The army and the RSF paramilitary militia have been fighting each other in the East African country for almost a year. The background is disputes during the transition to a civilian government. According to the UN, almost 25 million Sudanese – half of the population – urgently need help.