Minister Fleming announces €12.3m to support people in Sudan

Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming T.D. today announced a contribution from Ireland of €12.3 million in 2024 to the humanitarian effort in Sudan and neighbouring countries in response to the dire humanitarian situation a year on from the outbreak of conflict in April 2023.

The announcement was made at an international conference in Paris for Sudan and its neighbouring countries jointly organised by the EU, France and Germany.

Announcing today’s pledge Minister of State Fleming said:

“The Irish Government and people have long stood in solidarity with the people of Sudan. The unprecedented scale of hunger developing across Sudan, coupled with mass displacement of over 9 million people, is catastrophic. This support from Ireland will assist our UN and civil society partners to deliver urgently needed humanitarian relief for people in Sudan and those who have fled to neighbouring countries."

“It is vital that there is safe and sustained humanitarian access to reach people in need. Together with our EU partners, Ireland continues to call for a ceasefire and peace negotiations which will allow Sudan to restore its democratic transition.”

The humanitarian situation in Sudan continues to worsen with almost 25 million people in Sudan in need of humanitarian assistance. Over 6.5 million people have been displaced within Sudan since 15 April 2023, according to the International Organization for Migration, making Sudan the largest internal displacement crisis in the world. Another 1.8 million people have also crossed into neighbouring countries. Ireland’s pledge at the conference will support people in Sudan itself and also refugees who have been forced to flee.

Ireland’s support to Sudan will be channelled through the UN including the Sudan Humanitarian Fund and Irish NGOs such as GOAL, Trócaire and Concern.

Note to the editors

• France, Germany and the EU are co-hosting an international humanitarian conference for Sudan and neighbouring countries in Paris on 15 April 2024.

• The conference will be attended by government representatives from across the world and various NGOs. French President Macron will deliver closing remarks.

• This humanitarian conference takes place one year after the outbreak of conflict in Sudan and aims to draw attention to the dire humanitarian situation caused as a result. As a pledging conference, it aims to raise funds to support the civilian population.

• Sudan’s civilians have suffered nearly a full year of violent conflict since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023. There have been a range of mediation efforts since the outbreak of war all of which have failed to secure a ceasefire.

• UNOCHA estimates that almost 25 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Sudan in 2024.

• On 7th February 2024, UN OCHA and UNHCR Jointly launched the 2024 Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP 2024) and the 2024 Sudan Situation Regional Refugee Response Plan, appealing for a combined $4.1 to support 17.4 million people inside and out of Sudan. At that event, Martin Griffiths, USG for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees noted a worsening of the humanitarian situation in Sudan with the threat of famine looming, and underscored the criticality of peace as the only sustainable solution to fix this “forgotten crisis”. Neighbouring countries called for renewed peace efforts and greater burden sharing, while donors including the EU reaffirmed their commitment to support the international response to alleviate humanitarian needs.

• To date, the financial tracking service shows Sudan shows the HRNP is only 6.2% funded.

• 6.5 million people have been displaced within Sudan since 15 April 2023, according to the International Organization for Migration, making Sudan the largest internal displacement crisis in the world. About 1.8 million people have also crossed into neighbouring countries including Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

• Ireland provided €10.3m in humanitarian assistance in 2023 for Sudan and the impact on neighbouring countries. In 2024, Ireland pledges over €12.3m for Sudan and for countries in the region who are supporting Sudanese refugees. This funding is channelled through the United Nations agencies and International NGOs working closely with local responders.

ENDS

Press Office

15 April 2024