Proliferation of humanitarian needs in Sudan means greater funding required [EN/AR]

Press release
Sudan | 01 June 2014

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan is expressing deep concern with the marked increase in humanitarian needs in Sudan which are not met with sufficient humanitarian aid, putting at risk hundreds of thousands of affected people throughout the country. He confirmed that the UN and its partners have received so far in 2014 only 33% of the US$ 995 million needed to meet the country’s humanitarian needs.

Earlier in 2014, in response to the growing humanitarian needs, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Ms. Valerie Amos, who oversees the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), authorized an initial amount of US$ 20 million to support lifesaving projects in Sudan and later released an additional US$ 6.5 million from the CERF to support the needs of the South Sudanese citizens seeking shelter in Sudan.

“While so far in the year there seems to be less international humanitarian funding available for Sudan’s Strategic Response Plan due it seems to emerging crises elsewhere in the region, Sudan’s humanitarian needs continue to mount. In the first quarter of 2014 alone, nearly 300,000 people in Darfur were displaced from their homes by violence. These people join the 2 million people in Darfur who are already living in camps and depend on international humanitarian aid to survive. The conflict in South Sudan has also driven thousands of civilians more than 80,000 by UN count in total so far, seeking refuge in Sudan thus putting pressure on a stretched system of life-saving support. On top of it fighting in South Kordofan continues to endanger and displace people while a persistent malnutrition problem in many parts of Sudan compound the pressures on the national and international humanitarian community to respond effectively and timely. If instability and increasing want continue without adequate mitigation we will be looking at unprecedented numbers of people in total crises and need in the rest of the year,” warned Ali Al-Za’tari, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan.

The Humanitarian Coordinator indicated that CERF funding is only provided in sudden emergencies in response to underfunded and/or rapid response situations both of which afflict Sudan. It cannot be considered a viable alternate to sustained funding. The CERF funding on its part augments the Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF), which has been operating in Sudan since 2006 and which on its own has been witnessing a steady decline in the past three years decreasing from US$79.9 million in 2012 and US$56.5 million in 2013 to US$39.4million in 2014. Both funds support Sudan’s UN and partner’s humanitarian response which remains strikingly underfunded.

“Both the CERF and the CHF help humanitarian organizations receive funding quickly when it is needed to save lives. They help humanitarian organizations improve access to primary healthcare and malnutrition, and provide shelter and the clearance of unexploded ordnance, but they are not meant to substitute for much needed funding en masse by the international community,” said Ali Al-Za’tari.