Washington: A “ceasefire” is Important to prevent Famine in Sudan

Sudan Events – Follow-ups

A senior US official said that a ceasefire is important in Sudan to prevent famine.
Assistant Secretary of State Julieta Valls Noez, head of the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, affirmed in a digital press conference, following visits to Chad and Ethiopia, where she met with government officials and humanitarian workers.
“Preventing famine and long-term catastrophe will require a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access,” she affirmed
Valls Noyes said the U S recently pledged an additional $47 million for the humanitarian response in countries neighboring Sudan, including Chad and South Sudan.
This brings total US aid to nearly $1 billion since the outbreak of the conflict a year ago.
Despite this, many humanitarian needs have not been met, both in Darfur and in neighboring countries such as Chad, where 560,000 Sudanese have taken refuge.
“Resources are scarce and humanitarian funding is very weak,” UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner Kelly Clements said earlier this month after visiting Chad.
She added: “Chadian officials are concerned that more hungry Sudanese families will arrive in the coming weeks.” “Arrivals have slowed in recent months, but this could change quickly.
Even without more arriving, the needs now far exceed the capacity of humanitarian agencies..Resources are scarce and humanitarian funding is extremely tight… The dire situation could soon become much worse.”