The US just announced its plan to send more than $47 million in humanitarian aid to war-torn Sudan, as well as to two neighboring countries where at least a million people have fled within the last year.
According to a statement released by the US State Department Wednesday, the aid package is meant to help curb the suffering of roughly 25 million people, including refugees who fled into Chad and South Sudan.
"This US humanitarian assistance provides critical life-saving assistance including food, water and sanitation facilities, shelter, medical services including mental health support, and protection to Sudanese fleeing the conflict," it said.
The new funds bring the total US aid for Sudan to more than $968 million since last year.
The International Rescue Committee cited the power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began last April as a major driving force behind the increasing instability of the region.
"Before the conflict, Sudan was already experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis," the IRC said. "Long-term political instability and economic pressures meant that 15.8 million people were in need of humanitarian aid."
Sudan topped the IRC's annual Emergency Watchlist, which assesses the 20 countries at greatest risk of new humanitarian emergencies each year
The war in Sudan only exacerbated the conditions, leaving almost 25 million people in need, which amounts to more than half of Sudan's population.
More than 9 million people are believed to be internally displaced in Sudan, and 1.5 million refugees have fled to neighboring countries, reported The Associated Press.
Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration Julieta Valls Noyes announced the US relief funds during a meeting in N'Djamena with Chadian Prime Minister Succès Masra.
Chad will receive $18 million of the entire package, as revealed in a statement posted by the US Population, Refugees and Migration Bureau on the social media platform X.
The country alone has taken in 700,000 Sudanese since the conflict began.
The US is seemingly pleased with the opportunity to renew its calls on warring parties to end hostilities.
"Preventing a famine and long-term catastrophe will require both a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access," the statement said.
The announcement follows UN Director of Humanitarian Operations Edem Wosornu's statement to the Security Council, noting that Sudan may become the world's worst hunger crisis as 18 million people are already facing famine.
Wosornu emphasized the dire need for humanitarian aid and protested that the UN appeal for $2.7 billion for Sudan was less than 5% funded, only receiving $131 million.
