Switzerland donates $3 million for humanitarian needs in Sudan
November 18, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The government of Switzerland has contributed additional $3 million to the 2015 Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) to help address growing humanitarian needs in Sudan.
“This is an addition to a total of $11 million that Switzerland had allocated for humanitarian aid for Sudan in 2015 through different organizations as part of the Swiss Cooperation Strategy (2013-2016),” the press release reads.
It added that the Swiss Cooperation Strategy is now extended until 2017 with an extra funding of about $10 million.
The representative of the UNHCR in Sudan Mohammed Adar said the total number of refugees and asylum-seekers in Sudan has more than doubled over the past two years, pointing to the continuous arrivals from South Sudan and Eritrea.
“While more needs to be done to respond to these people’s vulnerabilities, the level of funding is worryingly shrinking. This contribution from the Government of Switzerland is therefore critical and will help UNHCR fulfill its mission in Sudan, in support of refugee and host communities”, he added
In 2015, in addition to the recent contribution of $1 million, WFP Sudan received some $4.5 million from Switzerland which was partially used to support the cash and voucher programme in Kassala States and Darfur region while the other part was used for buying dry skimmed milk for 93,700 children under two years of age and pregnant and nursing mothers.
According to the WFP, this recent contribution of $1 million from the government of Switzerland will help WFP to boost food security and livelihood programmes in the most vulnerable communities in Sudan.
WFP Sudan Country Director Adnan Khan, for his part thanked the people and government of Switzerland for this generous contribution which will enable WFP to provide much needed food assistance to most vulnerable populations in Sudan.
Some 5.4 million people are targeted for the humanitarian aid across Sudan. For 2015, the Sudan CHF has prioritized activities that provide immediate life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people– women and children.
To date, the Sudan CHF has received and granted over one billion dollars to aid organizations in Sudan.
Last year, the fund received support from Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK) and allocated more than $55 million for humanitarian action across Sudan.
(ST)