Sudan: UN humanitarian chief reiterates appeal for funding
May 3, 2023 (PORT SUDAN) – The United Nations humanitarian and emergency relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths has reiterated appeal for the $1.7 billion Humanitarian Response Plan meant for Sudan.
The appeal, made before Sudan’s current conflict, has received $200 million.
“So, what we need is people to put money into those funds, they exist. There is a Sudan Humanitarian Fund run by my office for example which has been tested and true. There is no need to wait for an appeal to put money where it needs to be,” Griffith told reporters in Port Sudan on Wednesday.
More than 500 people, according to the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA), have died and over 4,500 injured since the conflict began, with many more thought to have died due to the disruption of critical services, including health care.
In addition, about 334,000 people are estimated to have been internally displaced, and over 100,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries.
In the capital, Khartoum, several neighbourhoods continue to face severe water shortages due to blackouts, lack of fuel and damage to water supplies.
The UN relief chief expressed concerns over the spate of lootings in Sudan.
“As you looting of humanitarian stocks across the country has been a very sad phenomenon of these past weeks. And so we need to resupply those stocks which have been done, but we need to do it into an environment where there are commitments that looting will not happen again,” he said.
Griffiths also said that he hoped to have face-to-face meetings with Sudan’s warring parties within two to three days to secure public guarantees from them for the safe passage of humanitarian assistance.
This comes after rival factions declared a seven-day ceasefire on Tuesday.
“It’s important to me that we meet physically, face-to-face to discuss this, because we need it to be a public, accountable moment,” said Griffith.
“We are now in the process of dealing specifically with them on a date and place,” he added.
The UN has, however, warned that fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) risks causing a humanitarian catastrophe that could spill over into neighbouring countries.
According to the UN, about a third of Sudan’s population of 46 million was already in need of humanitarian assistance before the current conflict began.
(ST)