The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, set out three priorities to ensure that the war in Sudan does not turn into a “forgotten conflict”, on Friday 15 March at a preparatory meeting for the International Conference on Humanitarian Aid in Sudan and Its Neighbours, scheduled for Monday 15 April in Paris (see EUROPE 13362/16).
Firstly, “we need to provide more funding”, said Mr Lenarčič, noting that in 2023, less than half of commitments had been honoured. In 2024, the EU mobilised an initial amount of €72 million for the provision of humanitarian aid to Sudan.
Secondly, the European Commissioner called for “respect for international humanitarian law” from all parties to the conflict, denouncing the excessively high number of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. He also stressed that unhindered and secure access for aid and humanitarian workers must be guaranteed.
Thirdly, the international community must exert pressure to initiate peace talks, according to Mr Lenarčič, who warns: “Sudan is in a state of collapse. It risks the biggest famine in a decade unless we take immediate action”. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)