The British Minister announced an additional £20 million in funding to assist refugees who have fled the war. This aid includes enhancing food production and providing essential reproductive and sexual health services to save lives.British Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized on Friday the importance of not ignoring the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, stating that “Sudan must not be forgotten”
. This came during Lammy’s visit to Adré, a town on the Chad-Sudan border, marking the first such visit by a British Foreign Secretary
.Lammy explained that the purpose of his visit was to achieve a new international commitment to support a political process to end the violent conflict in Sudan
. He announced an additional £20 million in aid for refugees fleeing the war, focusing on food production and life-saving reproductive and sexual health services.
Speakers noted that this assistance is part of a comprehensive plan announced by Britain last November, which increased its humanitarian support for Sudan to £226.5 million. This funding aims to provide food for about 800,000 displaced people, mostly women and children, as well as improve shelter, water, healthcare, and education conditions.
Lammy stressed the importance of keeping refugees close to their original areas to facilitate their return when conditions improve.
We must not forget Sudan. pic.twitter.com/DEO1pbIgbm
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 25, 2025
He pointed out that the war in Sudan has displaced 3.6 million people to neighboring countries, and smuggling gangs have profited from the crisis.
The British Minister praised the role of countries like Egypt, Chad, and South Sudan in dealing with the crisis’s repercussions and called on the international community to increase support to limit the rising number of victims and enhance stability in the region
Lammy confirmed that the British government is working to address the root causes of irregular migration, noting that about 2,000 Sudanese arrived in Britain via small boats by September 2024. The British government aims to reduce the number of migrants risking their lives to cross the English Channel.
Furthermore, the Foreign Secretary indicated his intention to organize an international meeting of foreign ministers to gather international support to end the conflict in Sudan and ensure aid reaches the most affected areas.
He also highlighted that Britain, in cooperation with Sierra Leone, submitted a draft resolution to the United Nations last November calling for enhanced regionally-led mediation efforts focusing on Sudanese voices, which was supported by most Security Council members except Russia.
Lammy called for opening more border crossings to ensure aid reaches those in need, emphasizing the necessity for routes and crossings to be safe and sustainably usable.
He stated, “Forgetting Sudan would be an unforgivable mistake. We must act now to avoid a greater catastrophe”
