The UN wants $6 billion to alleviate Sudan’s “appalling” suffering

The UN announced on Monday that it is looking for $6 billion from foreign donors this year for Sudan in order to alleviate suffering in what it described as one of the most catastrophic crises of our time, which is marked by widespread displacement and escalating starvation.

The U.N. request is more than 40% higher than last year’s for Sudan at a time when assistance budgets around the world are being squeezed, in part because of a funding halt ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump last month that has impacted life-saving initiatives worldwide.

However, according to the U.N., the impact of the 22-month conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has already caused a fifth of the country’s population to be displaced and fueled severe hunger among around half of it, is expected to intensify, making the funding imperative.

Tom Fletcher, the U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator, declared before the start that “Sudan is a humanitarian emergency of shocking proportions.” Hunger is spreading. The prevalence of sexual violence is rampant. Youngsters are being hurt and killed. The anguish is terrible.

According to the U.N. statement, famine has been documented in at least five places in Sudan, including camps for displaced people in Darfur. It further stated that while war continues and basic services continue to fail, the situation is expected to get worse.

As it attempts to strengthen its hold on its Darfur bastion, the RSF targeted one of the famine-stricken settlements last week.

The scope of coverage for famine relief is still unknown, despite the fact that some humanitarian organizations claim they have been granted permission by Washington to deliver aid in Sudan.

As the most ambitious humanitarian response to date for 2025, the U.N. plan calls for $4.2 billion, with the remaining funds going to those displaced by the violence. Its goal is to reach about 21 million people within the nation.