At a conference in London marking two years since the outbreak of the war in Sudan, the European Union and Britain committed to bolstering their humanitarian assistance to the country, which has been ravaged by conflict since April 2023.
The EU and its member states pledged over 522 million euros ($592 million), while Britain announced an additional 120 million pounds ($158 million) in aid. The funds are intended to address the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, which has led to the displacement of millions and severe devastation across regions like Darfur.
The British government, co-hosting the conference with the African Union, the European Union, France, and Germany, aims to create a more coordinated international response to the crisis. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stressed the need for diplomacy to urge the warring parties to protect civilians and allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need. “We cannot resign ourselves to inevitable conflict. We must work to ensure that we’re not having the same discussions a year from now,” Lammy said at the conference’s opening.
Despite the significant international focus, Sudan’s junta-led government criticized the conference for not including representatives from either side of the conflict, calling out the exclusion of Sudanese officials and expressing dissatisfaction with the participation of countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kenya.
Sudan accuses the UAE of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a claim that has found some credibility with U.N. experts and U.S. lawmakers. The UAE has denied the allegations and is seeking to have the case dismissed in the International Court of Justice.
The ongoing war between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the RSF has killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and drawn in foreign powers. As the conflict enters its third year, the situation has become one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. UN officials reported that systematic rape is being used as a weapon of war in Sudan, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) called for a more coordinated international response. “Sudanese people are tired of this war,” said Luca Renda, the UNDP Resident Representative in Sudan.
The German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, described the crisis as “the greatest humanitarian catastrophe of our time.”
The conference aims to put pressure on the international community to take more substantial action, with the continued focus on the urgent need for aid and a sustainable path to peace.