EU provides additional humanitarian assistance for Sudan

July 18, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The European Commission has decided to provide additional humanitarian aid of €4 million for Sudan, to face the increasing needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and South Sudanese refugees.

“The humanitarian situation in Sudan is getting worse each day. In Darfur and in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States, 5.4 million people are in need of lifesaving aid,” said EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides.

“The increasing number of refugees from South Sudan makes the already fragile context even more difficult,” he further added.

Twelve years after the start of Darfur conflict, UN agencies estimate that there are over 3 million IDPs in the western Sudan region.

They further say about one fifth of Sudan’s population, approximately 6.6 million people, is estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance pointing to high level of malnutrition and lack both infrastructure and basic public services.

Also since December 2013, over 190,000 South Sudanese sought refuge in Sudan.

The additional €4 million brings the total of the EU’s assistance to Sudan in 2015 to €32 million.

The aid will be used to meet people’s most urgent needs, including food assistance, water, sanitation and health services.

(ST)