A UN official said Blinken will announce additional funds for Sudan on Thursday

At the United Nations on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make an announcement on more funding for humanitarian aid to Sudan and initiatives to help civil society in the nation, where a conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.

Blinken will make many announcements when he leads a UN Security Council meeting on Sudan on Thursday, which will center on humanitarian aid and civilian safety, Deputy U.S. Representative to the UN Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday.

According to Price, the announcements would include more money for humanitarian help, initiatives to support civil society, and eventually the return of democracy.

“Sudan, unfortunately, has risked becoming a forgotten conflict,” Price stated.

“So, part of the reason the secretary … opted to convene a signature event on this very topic is to make sure it remains in the spotlight,” Price explained.

For almost 18 months, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s army have been engaged in combat, resulting in a severe humanitarian crisis that has forced over 12 million people from their homes and made it difficult for U.N. organizations to provide aid.

A power struggle between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces preceded a planned shift to civilian administration, which sparked the conflict in April 2023.

Although the army declined to join this year’s U.S.-mediated peace negotiations in Geneva, the warring parties did pledge to increase assistance access, which prevented any movement toward a truce.

Price stated that before President Joe Biden’s term ends next month, the United States will keep collaborating with allies to enhance humanitarian access in Sudan and eventually bring an end to hostilities.

“We are going to leave nothing on the field in our efforts to work with allies, with partners, with the Sudanese stakeholders themselves, on the issues that matter most – humanitarian access, the provision of humanitarian assistance, ultimately, the process by which we can work to get to a cessation of hostilities, which is most urgently needed,” he stated.