In response to the scale of humanitarian needs in Sudan, the EU has set up a Humanitarian Air Bridge, the first flight of which, carrying 30 tonnes of vital equipment, has arrived at its destination, the European Commission announced on Wednesday 10 May.
The EU had committed itself to increasing its humanitarian assistance to the populations affected by the continued fierce fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces since 18 April (see EUROPE 13178/3, 13175/4).
The emergency supplies - including clean water, sanitation and hygiene equipment and shelter materials - were transported from UN warehouses in Dubai to Port Sudan. They were then handed over to UNICEF and the World Food Programme.
€200,000 in emergency humanitarian aid had been mobilised by the end of April to assist the injured and those at high risk in Khartoum and other parts of the country (see EUROPE 13172/29).
The humanitarian air bridge is in addition to the €73 million in humanitarian funding for Sudan in 2023 in the EU budget.
In addition to more than 750 dead and 6,000 wounded and 150,000 refugees, the clashes between the rival generals have already caused the forced displacement of more than 700,000 people inside the country (internally displaced persons), according to figures given on Tuesday by the International Organization for Migration. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)