May 19, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The United States on Friday announced an initial $103 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support Sudan and neighbouring countries affected by the ongoing crisis.
The funding aims to address the increased humanitarian needs resulting from the conflict and will be allocated to several countries in the region.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power made the announcement during her visit to Chad, where she is currently meeting with Sudanese refugees who have been displaced by the fighting.
The funding includes $8 million for the Central African Republic, $17 million for Chad, $6 million for Egypt, $22 million for South Sudan, and $50 million for Sudan. This allocation will help these countries respond to the pressing humanitarian needs arising from the crisis.
In Chad, where Administrator Power is currently present, the additional $17 million in humanitarian assistance will support U.S. government partners who are actively working to meet the needs of vulnerable Sudanese refugees. This funding will also provide aid to existing refugees residing near the Chad-Sudan border.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power arrived in Chad Thursday to assess the humanitarian situation and meet with Sudanese refugees who have sought safety from the escalating conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
The visit comes as Chad and other countries in the region grapple with the repercussions of the ongoing crisis.
According to the United Nations, more than 76,000 people have crossed the border from Sudan into Chad since the outbreak of fighting on April 15, seeking humanitarian assistance and protection. Even prior to this recent influx, Chad was already hosting more than 600,000 refugees, making it the largest refugee population in west and central Africa.
The additional assistance provided by the United States in Chad will be channelled through the UN World Food Program (WFP). This aid will enable the WFP to provide essential food and cash assistance to over 135,000 people, including newly arrived refugees from Sudan and refugees already residing in Chad.
Given the strain on resources and the difficult choices faced by humanitarian partners across the region due to the escalating crisis, the United States called on other donors to step forward and assist in addressing critical funding gaps.
(ST)
