By Riches Soberekon
As conflict continues to ravage Sudan for the fourth consecutive month, a top global aid official has called on the international community to provide more funding to assist the Sudanese people.
The Red Cross Secretary-General revealed that only 7% of the $45 million appeal has been received so far. Urging global solidarity and generosity, the official emphasized the urgent need for assistance as the situation in the country deteriorates.
With over 3.4 million people internally displaced and more than one million seeking refuge in neighboring countries, the crisis has had a profound impact on Sudanese society. Egypt, in particular, has received over 250,000 Sudanese refugees as of August 1, according to official figures.
While the situation at the Egyptian border has become more organized compared to previous months, with a decrease in the number of daily crossings, there are still long queues on the other side of the border, indicating the ongoing challenges in managing the influx of people.
The Red Cross official highlighted the importance of coordinated efforts to address the crisis and drew parallels with the international response to the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for similar solidarity to support millions of people affected both inside and outside Sudan.
In April, Sudan was plunged into chaos due to escalating tensions between Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the military council, and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Since then, the country has been gripped by violence and instability, exacerbating the suffering of its people.
The urgent appeal for increased funding aims to provide critical assistance to those in need and alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan.