The Commission has decided to mobilise €55 million in humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable populations affected by the multiple humanitarian crises in Sudan, the institution announced on 11 November, the day on which EU foreign ministers held a working lunch with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdock.
An opportunity for them to identify urgent needs and reaffirm the EU's political will to support the Transitional Civilian Government and provide financial assistance for transition, in particular to support economic reform.
Speaking to the press, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, spoke of an "an encouraging transition that the European Union is strongly supporting both politically but also financially".
"The EU fully supports its efforts for peace, democratic transition and economic recovery in its country", added Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. He went on to say, "The EU welcomes recent announcements by the new transitional Sudanese government on its intentions to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Aid must reach all areas of Sudan, including conflict zones".
At least 8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, 6.3 million of whom do not have enough food. One in six children suffers from acute malnutrition.
The envelope will finance: - food and nutritional assistance to vulnerable households, children under five years of age and pregnant or nursing women; - emergency health care, including addressing the cholera epidemic in 2 states of Sudan; - support for refugees, forcibly internally displaced Sudanese and host communities by providing them with basic essential products and services; - the education of children living in crisis-affected areas.
Since 2011, the EU has allocated more than €518 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan through humanitarian partner organisations. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)