France to host humanitarian conference on Sudan in April

February 15, 2024 (PARIS) – France will hold a ministerial meeting in mid-April to help Sudan and neighbouring countries cope with the fallout of a civil war that has seen millions displaced and prompted warnings of famine, officials said.

Last week, the United Nations urged countries not to forget the civilians caught up in the war in Sudan, appealing for $4.1 billion to meet their humanitarian needs and support those who have fled to neighbouring countries.

Around 25 million people, according to the UN, need humanitarian assistance and protection, while more than 1.5 million people have fled to the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

“It cannot become a forgotten crisis,” Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne told a hearing in parliament, saying the conference on Sudan will be on April 15.

The war in Sudan pits the country’s armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to end the conflict.

Ministers from neighbouring nations, regional actors, western states, UN agencies and non-profit organisations working in the area will attend the conference.

(ST)