On 15 April, the German government is organising an international donor conference to mark the anniversary of the armed conflict in Sudan. Together with the UK, France, the USA and the European and African Union, the aim is to discuss urgently needed aid measures. But while the diplomats are meeting, the suffering continues to escalate: around half the population is starving and 11.6 million people are displaced - more than ever before. Misereor is urging the conference participants to finally provide sufficient funds for humanitarian aid.
"Our partners are reporting a catastrophe that can hardly be put into words: People don't have enough to eat, children are weakened by hunger and disease, families are fleeing with no prospect of safety," says Katharina Götte, Sudan expert at Misereor. "A war that is plunging over 21 million people into food insecurity and depriving millions of children of basic opportunities for the future must no longer be marginalised." Sudan is experiencing a humanitarian crisis of historic proportions: reports of systematic sexualised violence, ethnically motivated attacks and the recruitment of children paint a picture of massive atrocities. The United Nations is documenting the most serious human rights violations in the Darfur region, including possible crimes against humanity.
Aid on the ground at the limit
"The daily lives of people in the embattled areas are characterised by shifting front lines, air strikes and persistent fear. No one can be sure what the next day will bring," says Götte. At the same time, local self-help groups and church organisations continue their work under extreme conditions - often at the risk of their own lives. The Catholic Church in Sudan is a minority church, but consciously remains on the side of the population and provides humanitarian and pastoral support. "Displaced people are queuing outside churches asking for food and protection. But the helpers have long since reached their limits - also because international support is noticeably declining," warns Götte.
Region under growing pressure
Around 4.5 million people are seeking protection in neighbouring countries, particularly in Chad and South Sudan. But even there, the reception structures are reaching their limits - not least due to a lack of financial resources. Against this backdrop, Misereor supports the initiative of the upcoming Sudan conference and urgently appeals to the participants to campaign for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, safe access for aid supplies and significantly more financial resources. "It is intolerable that this crisis is escalating before the eyes of the world," says Götte. "The conference must be more than just a signal - it must bring concrete help. Now."
