GENEVA, Feb 17 (Kuna) -- The United Nations and its partners on Monday launched the 2025 humanitarian and refugee response plans for Sudan appealing for a combined USD six billion to assist nearly 26 million people inside the country and in the region.
This came in a joint statement issued from Geneva by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
According to their statement, the humanitarian response plan for Sudan aims to raise USD 4.2 billion to provide aid to 21 million people inside the country while the regional refugee response plan seeks to raise USD 1.8 billion to support 4.8 million people in refugee-hosting countries including the Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher described Sudan's situation as a shocking humanitarian emergency, underlining the spread of famine and extreme suffering, especially among children, who face constant threats of death and injury.
Fletcher said that the UN plans help millions, emphasizing the need to stop the fighting and secure funding to deliver aid to the Sudanese people and ensure access by land, sea and air to those in need.
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that today, one-third of Sudan's entire population is displaced.
Neighboring countries have shown great solidarity by welcoming refugees. However, essentials such as water shelter and health services are scarce and Sudan needs urgent support, he added.
Grandi stated that nearly 3.5 million people have sought safety in neighboring countries, further straining already scarce services and resources.
The UN warned that famine conditions have been reported in at least five locations in Sudan including displacement camps in Darfur and the western Nuba Mountains. Hunger is expected to worsen by May.
With continued fighting and the collapse of basic services across most of the country, the crisis is set to deteriorate further.
The UN agencies also warned that without immediate funding, two-thirds of refugee children would be denied access to education. (end) Imk.lr