Blinken to announce more funding for Sudan at UN

19/12/2024 6:10

U.S. Secretary of State

Antony Blinken will announce at the United Nations on Thursday

additional funding for humanitarian assistance to Sudan and

efforts to support civil society in the country, where a

conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and driven

millions from their homes.



Deputy U.S. Representative to the United Nations Ned Price

told reporters on Wednesday that Blinken will make a number of

announcements when he chairs on Thursday a UN Security Council

meeting on Sudan, which will focus on humanitarian assistance

and protection of civilians.



The announcements will include additional funding for

humanitarian assistance, and efforts to support civil society

and, ultimately, the transition back to democracy, Price said.



"Sudan, unfortunately, has risked becoming a forgotten

conflict," Price said.



"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 said.



Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have

been locked in conflict for more than 18 months, triggering a

profound humanitarian crisis in which more than 12 million

people have been driven from their homes and U.N. agencies have

struggled to deliver relief.



The war erupted in April 2023 amid a power struggle between

the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF ahead of a planned

transition to civilian rule.



U.S.-mediated talks in Geneva this year failed to achieve

progress toward a ceasefire as the army refused to attend, but

did secure promises from the warring parties to improve aid

access.



Price said the United States would continue to work with

allies for improved humanitarian access in Sudan and ultimately

a cessation of hostilities before the end of President Joe

Biden's term next month.



"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

said.